Department for Transport

Retail Trade: Apprentices and Training

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative estimate he has made of the number of (a) people undertaking training and apprenticeships in the rail sector and (b) jobs available in that sector.

Wendy Morton: No comparative estimate has been made of the number of people undertaking training and apprenticeships in the rail sector and jobs available across the entirety of the rail sector. The Department is committed to ensuring that the transport workforce better reflects our diverse society. On 7 February 2022 the Department published a Transport Labour Market and Skills Call for Views and Ideas, which asks for views on the future labour market and skills needs of the transport sector, including how we can do more to target and reduce the barriers to improving diversity, inclusion, and social mobility. The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail also sets out a commitment to empower rail’s people and the new body, Great British Railways (GBR) will work with the sector to develop a new sector wide workforce plan with a joined up cross-sector training and skills offer. This approach will support a consistent and sustainable approach in future recruitment practices.

Aviation: Armed Conflict

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what rules are in place regarding the flightpaths of commercial airplanes crossing over areas of conflict (a) when guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to the nation whose airspace the flightpath crosses and (b) more widely.

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the rules in place for commercial airplanes crossing areas of conflict; and whether his Department plans to amend those rules.

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of commercial airline passengers when flying over areas of conflict.

Robert Courts: Individual States are responsible for issuing advice in relation to their airspace, including overflying conflict zones. These roles and responsibilities are set out in guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The UK Government works to identify threats to civil aviation globally, and where appropriate, issues additional security NOTAMs to UK airlines. This information is then used by airlines to conduct their own risk assessments and plan flight routings.

Taxis: Training

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to introduce disability equality training for taxi, minicab and private hire drivers.

Trudy Harrison: Effective disability awareness training can help ensure that taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers have the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide passengers with appropriate assistance, so that they can travel independently and with confidence. The Department wants every local licensing authority to require taxi and PHV drivers to complete disability awareness training and will make this clear in updated best practice guidance, due to be published for consultation later in the year. The government also remains committed to introducing mandatory disability awareness training for taxi and PHV drivers through new National Minimum Standards for licensing authorities when Parliamentary time allows.

Bus Services: Rural Areas

Alicia Kearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to support rural bus services as covid-related support is reduced.

Trudy Harrison: During the pandemic, the Government has provided unprecedented levels of financial support to the bus sector through its emergency and recovery support packages. Over £1.7bn has been provided to operators and Local Transport Authorities to date since March 2020. This is in addition to £200 million of Bus Services Operator’s Grant (BSOG) paid by the Department directly to operators, and £43 million of BSOG paid directly to LTAs so that they can subsidise socially necessary bus services. Our National Bus Strategy is explicit about seeking to ensure that the needs of rural transport users are given equal consideration to those in urban environments. The Government recognises that the transport needs of communities in rural areas differ from those in urban environments for a variety of reasons including demographics, lower population density and travel distances. All English Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) have had the opportunity to set out their requirements and needs in Bus Service Improvement Plans.

Bus Services: South West

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on bus services in the South West of ending the emergency covid funding in March 2022.

Trudy Harrison: Throughout the pandemic, the Government has provided unprecedented levels of financial support to the bus sector, with over £1.5bn in emergency funding and an additional £226.5m in recovery funding. The Department continues to work closely with the bus sector to assess its financial needs. Officials are meeting regularly with bus operator and local authority representatives to understand the implications of the Bus Recovery Grant ending in April 2022 and are actively exploring the case for any extension to funding. To further assist the sector in the short term, we are providing an additional £29m uplift to Bus Recovery Grant claimants this financial year.

Bus Services

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of commercial bus routes that have been abolished in England since 2010.

Trudy Harrison: The Department does not hold data on the number of commercial bus routes that have been abolished in England since 2010.

Taxis: Vacancies

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to support taxi companies who have driver shortages.

Trudy Harrison: The Government is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which local licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades. The primary function of licensing authorities is to ensure taxi and private hire vehicle services are safe; as regulators they should also consider the regulatory burden on the sector. The Government is aware of concerns over driver shortages in the sector and that some requirements set by licensing authorities to obtain a licence are perceived to be acting as a barrier to entry. The Government has already set out the high standards it expects the sector to meet to safeguard passengers. The Government supports the proportionate regulation of the sector and will shortly be consulting on guidance to licensing authorities on how they might best achieve that while maintaining high standards in safety and accessibility. The majority of the sector is self-employed where drivers work with a particular company it is for that company to decide how best to recruit and retain drivers

Highway Code

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to supply an updated copy of the Highway Code to each Member who requests a copy.

Trudy Harrison: The up to date Highway Code is available for free on any smartphone, laptop or other web-enabled device, including at workplaces and libraries. Users rate it among the most useful pages on GOV.UK, with details of updates, the dates they came into effect, and email alert services for future changes.To provide a free hard copy to Members who request a copy could potentially cost the taxpayer several thousand pounds depending upon uptake.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Conditions of Employment

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his statement on 10 September 2021, Transport update, HCWS282, what discussions he has had with (a) companies and (b) trade unions regarding differences in terms of employment offered to administrative and management staff in the logistics sector as compared to those offered to HGV drivers employed by the same companies.

Trudy Harrison: The Government has put in place 32 interventions to tackle the acute shortage of HGV drivers. However, the Government does not intervene in the levels of pay in private businesses, with the exception of setting the rates for the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. In addition, the relevant employment legislation sets minimum standards for workers’ rights and the government regulates HGV drivers’ hours.We are aware that levels of HGV driver pay are rising and more options are being made available for flexible working, fixed hours, fixed days, full-time and part-time. Ministers and officials meet periodically with industry bodies, companies and trade unions to discuss a wide range of issues relating to HGV driver recruitment and retention.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Conditions of Employment

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his statement on 10 September 2021, Transport update, HC WS 282, what progress the cross-Government ministerial group has made on securing improvements in the working conditions and employment contract arrangements for HGV drivers.

Trudy Harrison: The Government recognises the need to ensure hauliers have access to appropriate services and facilities. We are aware of the concerns expressed by many HGV drivers about the provision, quality and value of lorry parking in the UK. We have announced £32.5 million in new funding to improve roadside facilities for hauliers and are undertaking a new National Lorry Parking Survey supported by direct industry engagement to help identify where improvements are most needed. We continue to engage with key stakeholders to encourage the development of safe, secure and high-quality lorry parking. The Department published a joint letter with the Health and Safety Executive to remind businesses of their legal obligation to provide toilet and handwashing facilities to drivers visiting their premises as part of their work. The Government has confirmed its support for an industry-led “Year of Logistics” as well as the promotion of good practice in the sector as endorsed by unions and trade representatives. The Government does not intervene in the levels of pay in private businesses, with the exception of setting the rates for the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) opening DVLA outreach offices across the UK, (b) capping the cost of phone calls to DVLA customer services and (c) utilising Freephone services for some or all calls to DVLA customer services.

Trudy Harrison: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has recently opened a customer service centre in Birmingham and recruited more staff to help reduce current waiting times and provide future resilience and business continuity. There are no current plans for any further DVLA offices. The DVLA’s contact centre uses non-geographic, 0300 telephone numbers so that customers are charged at a local call rate whether they use a landline or mobile phone and wherever they are calling from in the United Kingdom. There are no plans to provide freephone services for calls to the DVLA.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to encourage airlines to no longer require mandatory mask wearing on domestic and international flights.

Robert Courts: In England face coverings are no longer required by law.Airlines and operators set their own conditions of carriage, including decisions on the wearing of face coverings and when to lift this requirement. The majority of airlines continue to opt to retain face coverings following up-to-date guidance from international aviation regulators, including both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EUASA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and due to continued differences in national COVID-19 restrictions around the world, which have made retaining the requirement simpler operationally in the short-term.

Shipping: Safety

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies relating to the seaworthiness of vessels of the decision in Alize 1954 and another v Allianz Elementar Versicherungs AG and others, [2021] UKSC 51.

Robert Courts: The Maritime & Coastguard Agency is the enforcement body for investigations and criminal prosecutions under Merchant Shipping legislation. The outcome of these civil proceedings will be taken into account when considering evidence and culpability in the event of any prosecutions in similar circumstances that are judged to be in the public interest.

Bristol Airport: Road Traffic

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has undertaken an impact assessment of the potential effect of the extra Bristol Airport runway on traffic in Bath and North East Somerset.

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has undertaken an impact assessment on the potential effect of the new Bristol Airport runway on carbon emissions in Bath and North East Somerset.

Robert Courts: The Government is supportive of airports across the UK making best use of their existing runways. The decision on the Bristol Airport planning appeal was made by an independent Planning Inspector following a Public Inquiry which considered the traffic and environmental impacts.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for airlines lifting mask mandates on domestic and international flights.

Robert Courts: Airlines and operators set their own conditions of carriage, including decisions on the wearing of face coverings and when to lift this requirement. The majority of airlines continue to opt to retain face coverings following up-to-date guidance from international aviation regulators, including both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EUASA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and due to continued differences in national COVID-19 restrictions around the world.

Housing: Parking

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the extent to which digital residential parking schemes may exclude people who are not connected to digital technology.

Trudy Harrison: Local authorities are responsible for the administration of any residential parking schemes implemented on their roads. It is for the relevant local authority to understand and cater for the needs of motorists parking in their area. This Department has not undertaken an assessment of digital residential parking schemes but does issue statutory parking guidance advocating the appraisal of parking policies, in particular the practical effectiveness of schemes.

Housing: Parking

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what analysis he has undertaken to determine good practice when it comes to residential parking schemes; and which local authorities have adopted that model.

Trudy Harrison: Local authorities are responsible for the traffic management schemes implemented on their roads, including residential parking schemes, as they are best placed to balance the competing needs of local road users. The Department has not undertaken an analysis of good practice in respect of residential parking schemes. However, it does issue statutory parking guidance advocating the communication of parking policies to the public and appraisal of those policies, including their effectiveness.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Research: Expenditure

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to page 172 of the Levelling Up White Paper, what the timescale is for the publication of subnational data on R&D spending; and where that data will be published.

George Freeman: The UK Government will ask the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK Government Office for Science to work with all Whitehall departments to collect and publish sub-national data on R&D spending. The timescales for this programme of work will be agreed collectively with all the parties in due course. We work with the ONS and the UK Government Office for Science to determine the most appropriate means of publishing the data.

Science: Regional Planning and Development

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to page 173 of the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, what plans his Department has to extend the biannual meetings between the Science Minister and his respective ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to regional leaders in England.

George Freeman: The Levelling Up White Paper announced that the Science Minister would convene a biannual meeting with respective Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This biannual meeting will further support close working relationships between the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.

Innovation: Regional Planning and Development

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to page 174 of the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, whether his Department and other relevant Government Department will take the leading role in managing the Innovation Accelerators rather than relevant local bodies.

George Freeman: Innovation Accelerators will be locally led partnerships involving leaders in local government, business and universities, working with national Government and R&D funders. They’re designed to pilot a new approach to supporting three places in the UK to become major, globally competitive centres for research and innovation. Each partnership will develop plans to boost innovation and attract new R&D investment in their city regions, building on existing work that each of these three city regions have already done to identify local strengths and opportunities, including through Science and Innovation Audits and local innovation plans.They will receive bespoke support from the UK Government, led by BEIS in partnership with other departments.

Science: Research

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the scientific research consortia as a future funding model.

George Freeman: Research consortia foster research collaboration between diverse partners within countries and across international boundaries. Evidence shows that collaboration leads to better performance. Collaboration and excellence reinforce each other:Within a single organisation or university, collaboration achieves 27% higher scholarly impact than no collaboration, however across organisations or in consortia within a country, collaborations achieve 45% higher impact, and international collaborations double the impact of scholarly output (99% higher), compared to no collaboration.The UK has received 21 of the 55 Nobel Prizes awarded between 2010 and 2020 and all of these (except for one in Literature) were shared with scientists from other nationsInternational R&D consortia lead to better economic outcomes:R&D investments have been found to generate twice as large returns internationally (250%) as they have domestically (121%) (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/roie.12404)A 1% increase in foreign R&D investment raises total factor productivity by twice as much as domestic R&D investment (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014292109000348) Existing international funding vehicles such as the Newton and Global Challenges Research Fund build international consortia (bilateral consortia with Newton and multilateral through the Global Challenges Research Fund) to progress research on shared challenges.

Innovation: Regional Planning and Development

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to page 174 of the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, which notes that the Innovation Accelerators may have to work with partners outside of their immediate geography, whether his Department plans to put in place limits to the funding shared with partners in the Greater South East.

George Freeman: The IAs will be centred on the three city regions, but partnerships will have flexibility to expand the reach of their activity to surrounding areas if desired. The £100m of R&D funding for the Accelerators will be awarded through a process run by UKRI and will support high quality R&D projects to grow local innovation ecosystems in the three pilot areas.

Energy: Prices

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department will take through its Net Zero Strategy to reduce energy costs for residential dwellings in each of the next 10 years.

Greg Hands: The Government laid out a range of measures to reduce the amount of energy used in homes in its Net Zero Strategy. These include consulting on phasing in higher minimum performance standards to ensure all homes meet EPC Band C by 2035, getting all fuel poor homes to EPC Band C by 2030 where practical, cost effective and affordable, increasing the environmental performance of energy-related products and by setting long-term regulatory standards to upgrade Privately Rented Homes to EPC C by 2028.Low-income homes will also be supported through schemes like the Home Upgrade Grant and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

Private Rented Housing: Energy

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion of renters pay their gas and electric bills directly, rather than through their landlord.

Greg Hands: The Government does not have data covering the energy billing arrangements of renters. Only energy suppliers and landlords will be able to identify the number of cases in which a tenant pays their gas and electricity bills directly

Energy: Prices

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the measures introduced by the Treasury on 3 February to tackle rising energy bills on (a) consumers and (b) businesses.

Greg Hands: The Government will work closely with industry and consumer groups on how best to deliver the measures, including by gathering further information through a public consultation in the Spring.

Renewable Energy

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he classes fuel meal generated from fallen animal stock as renewable energy.

Greg Hands: The Renewable Obligation defines biomass to be any material, other than fossil fuel, which is, or is derived directly or indirectly from, plant matter, animal matter, fungi, algae or bacteria. The Government only supports renewable energy generation from biomass that complies with strict sustainability criteria.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the options available to his Department to ensure that people eligible for the Warm Home Discount receive it during the winter months.

Greg Hands: The Government sets the spending target for each Warm Home Discount scheme year. However, energy suppliers are responsible for administering rebate payments to eligible customers’ accounts. Energy suppliers generally start issuing Warm Home Discount rebates in October in a scheme year and have until 31 March to apply the rebate to eligible customers’ energy bills. The Government encourages energy suppliers to make rebate payments as soon as possible once they have completed the checks on customers’ eligibility. They may, however, provide rebates at any time before the 31 March deadline, with most rebates being provided to customers by January in a scheme year. These timings allow for the data matching process and eligibility checks to be undertaken and the delivery of over 2.2 million £140 rebates to vulnerable households when they need it most, around wintertime. The Government consulted last summer on reforms to the scheme that would enable the vast majority of customers to receive their rebate automatically, without the need to apply. This would reduce the time needed to verify customers’ eligibility. The government will publish its response in the spring, with the reforms coming into force from the 2022/23 scheme year.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of standardising the broader group eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount Scheme across suppliers.

Greg Hands: The Government consulted last summer on the future of the Warm Home Discount scheme. While the Core Group of low-income pensioners would be maintained, the Government has proposed to replace the Broader Group and instead identify households on low incomes with the highest energy costs through data matching. Eligibility would be the same across all participating energy suppliers and this would enable most rebates to be provided automatically without customers having to apply, including working-age households for the first time. The Government will publish its response to the consultation in the spring, with the reforms coming into force from the 2022/23 scheme year.

Biofuels: Carbon Emissions

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many tonnes of CO2 will be emitted each year by the (a) transportation and (b) burning of wood pellets imported to the UK for use in bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) energy schemes.

Greg Hands: The Government does not hold this information

Fuel Poverty: Rural Areas

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of fuel poverty in rural areas on the decarbonisation of off gas grid properties.

Greg Hands: Fuel poverty is a devolved matter; in England, 18.2% of homes off the gas grid are in fuel poverty, compared to 12.7% on the gas grid (as of 2019). The next fuel poverty statistics are due to be published later this month. The report will include data for 2020 on the number of households living in fuel poverty in England and analysis of the composition of fuel poor households, as well as projections of the number of households in fuel poverty in 2021 and 2022.

Energy: Prices

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the rise in energy bills on customers in Weaver Vale constituency.

Greg Hands: The Government recognises many households will need support to deal with the impact of high wholesale energy costs, which are being affected by global factors. In response, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a package of support to help households with rising energy bills, worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23. This includes a £200 rebate for households delivered via their energy bill this autumn, a £150 non-repayable reduction in Council Tax bills for all households in Bands A-D in England and £144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction. This is in addition to the support Government will continue to provide through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which this winter is providing over 2 million households a £140 rebate off their energy bill each winter. The Government have announced that it would be increasing to £150 and help an extra 780,000 households next winter. Further, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments help ensure the most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the colder months.

Energy Company Obligation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his timetable is for (a) analysing the feedback and (b) responding to the Design of the Energy Company Obligation ECO4: 2022-2026 consultation.

Greg Hands: The consultation responses have been analysed and the Government intends to publish its response before the current ECO3 scheme ends at the end of March 2022.

Hydrogen

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support the growth of the hydrogen sector in the UK.

Greg Hands: The Government detailed the key steps needed to deliver the ambition for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 in its Hydrogen Strategy, published in August 2021. The Hydrogen Strategy set out almost £1 billion of government funding for hydrogen and other low carbon technologies, including a £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.  The Government has since announced the Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Revenue Support scheme to provide £100million funding for up to 250MW of initial electrolytic hydrogen projects allocated in 2023, with a further allocation round in 2024 and plans to announce a funding envelope for up to 1GW of CCUS-enabled hydrogen in 2022.

Local Net Zero Forum

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in the context of the National Audit Office's recommendations that the decarbonising roles for local and national authorities be clarified, when his Department plans to convene the Local Net Zero Forum established as part of the Net Zero Strategy.

Greg Hands: The Government responded to the National Audit Office’s recommendations that the decarbonising roles for national and local authorities be clarified in the Net Zero Strategy. This sets out the Government’s commitments to enable local areas to deliver net zero, including setting clearer expectations on how local and national authorities interact in the delivery of net zero. The Government will use the Local Net Zero Forum to discuss these issues with local government. The Government is in the process of establishing the Local Net Zero Forum. It will be a cross departmental effort and will bring together national and local government senior officials on a regular basis to discuss net zero policy and delivery options.

Energy: Prices

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the impact of Government policies on achieving net zero on the cost of energy for the poorest households.

Greg Hands: In the Net Zero Strategy, the Government set out four key principles of Net Zero Fairness including ensuring that the most vulnerable are supported by Government during the energy transition. In the Sustainable Warmth Competition, published in February 2021, the Government outlined its approach to tackling fuel poverty in England. It also recognised that improving the energy efficiency of homes is the most effective way of permanently reducing consumer energy bills and tackling fuel poverty in the long term. The Government is providing £3 billion of funding over this Parliament for low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures to those who need it most. Examples of these schemes include the Local Authority Delivery scheme, the Home Upgrade Grant and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. The Government is also consulting on expanding the Energy Company Obligation Scheme to £1 billion a year from April 2022. This will help an extra 305,000 families with green measures such as insulation and heating, with average energy bill savings of around £290 a year.

Energy: Companies

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to introduce restrictions on the level of profit of energy companies.

Greg Hands: The price cap protects households by ensuring they pay a fair price for gas and electricity. Ofgem’s price cap methodology includes a very modest allowance for profit made by an efficiently run supply company. The gas and electricity networks are economically regulated, so their returns are set through the Ofgem price control mechanism. Gas and electricity generators and gas shippers operate in a strongly competitive market. Additional taxes are already placed on the extraction of oil and gas, with companies engaged in the production of oil and gas on the UK Continental Shelf subject to headline tax rates on their profits that are currently more than double those paid by other businesses. To date, this sector has paid more than £375 billion in production taxes.

Coal: Mining

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the letter from the Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change to the Welsh Minister for Climate Change, dated 7 January 2022, when his Department plans to bring forward legislation to amend the Coal Authority’s statutory duty to promote an economically viable coal industry, as set out in the Coal Industry Act 1994.

Greg Hands: The Government is considering how best to ensure a future coal mine licensing regime is compatible with the country’s broader Net Zero and climate change goals. This may include changes to current legislative arrangements to meet those ambitions.

Small Businesses: Energy

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what additional support is being offered to small businesses to deal with the rise in energy prices.

Greg Hands: The Government’s priority is to ensure costs are managed and supplies of energy are maintained. The Secretary of State is in regular contact with the energy industry and Ofgem to manage the impact of high global gas prices and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Nuclear Power Stations: Closures

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of closing nuclear power plants in the UK.

Greg Hands: In June 2021, the Government and EDF agreed revised arrangements to deliver efficient decommissioning of EDF’s fleet of seven Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor stations once they stop generating power. Under the revised arrangements, each station will transfer to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which will manage the long-term decommissioning programme, once EDF has undertaken the defueling stage of decommissioning. EDF will be incentivised towards achieving good defueling performance and to support the transfer of the stations. The new arrangements provide significant potential cost savings for the taxpayer, with the potential to achieve upward of £1billion of savings without compromising on safety and security.

Coal: Mining

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the letter from the Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change to the Welsh Minister for Climate Change, dated 7 January 2022, if he will make it his policy to amend the Coal Industry Act 1994 to give the Coal Authority a statutory duty to (a) manage a decline of the coal industry in the UK in line with (i) the Glasgow Climate Pact and (ii) the IEA’s report Net Zero by 2050 - A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector and (b) ensure a just transition for workers in the coal industry.

Greg Hands: There are no plans to provide the Coal Authority with new duties. However, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from global coal use remains a key Government priority for the COP26 Energy Transition Campaign, including through securing ‘coal phasedown’ language in the Glasgow Climate Pact, the Government’s co-leadership of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, and launching an International Just Transition Declaration at the Glasgow Summit. https://ukcop26.org/supporting-the-conditions-for-a-just-transition-internationally/

Nuclear Power

James Daly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to deliver new nuclear power.

Greg Hands: This Government is committed to nuclear power as part of the country’s future diverse energy mix. Hinkley Point C is under construction and, when operational, will supply 3.2GW of secure, low carbon electricity for around 60 years, providing enough power for around 6 million homes. The Government is in constructive negotiations over Sizewell C in Suffolk. To further develop the project, the Government entered into a Combined Option agreement of £100 million with EDF on 27th January. The Government has also announced a £385million Advanced Nuclear Fund. From this, £210million has been awarded to Rolls-Royce SMR to develop their small modular reactor design and their continued advanced modular reactor development. The Government also announced a new £120 million Nuclear Enabling Fund to provide targeted support to address barriers to entry for future nuclear. Further details on the fund will be announced in due course. Later this year, the Government will publish a nuclear roadmap setting out the government’s strategy in more detail. The Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill is currently in Parliament. This will introduce a Regulated Asset Base model for nuclear projects and reduce the obstacles to financing new nuclear projects.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reopening the Green Homes Grant scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands: The Green Homes Grant Voucher scheme was designed to provide a short-term economic stimulus while tackling the country’s contribution to climate change. However, it was not delivering at the rate and scale the government had originally intended, facing a number of delivery challenges. The scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021 and will not reopen.To ensure we continue to deliver on our net zero ambitions and support a thriving building retrofit industry, the Government will be expanding its funding commitment for both the Homes Upgrade Grant scheme and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund with up to £950 million and £800 million in additional funding respectively over 2022/23 to 2024/25. This takes total funding to over £6.4billion across the lifetime of this Parliament. The Government is also introducing a new Boiler Upgrade Scheme worth £450 million, which will provide capital grants towards the cost of a heat pump.

Electricity Generation

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of Electricity Network Operators on (a) upgrading the electricity network to ensure that it can cope with the combined requirements of electric vehicle charging, heat pumps and other household appliances and (b) the cost of that potential upgrade.

Greg Hands: Network regulation, including ensuring that the electricity network has the capacity to meet increased electricity demand from Low Carbon Technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps is a matter for Ofgem, the independent energy regulator. Ofgem uses the RIIO price control framework to incentivise electricity network companies to invest in the grid, providing a safe, secure and reliable network for all consumers at the lowest possible cost. Ofgem is currently formulating the next electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED2) due to commence in April 2023.Government maintains regular engagement with Ofgem and electricity network companies to support them in providing consumers with a network capable of delivering future electricity requirements.

Heat Pumps

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what analysis his Department has undertaken into the costs involved in upgrading the electricity network to ensure it is able to cope with people charging their vehicles, running a heat a pump and household items at the same time.

Greg Hands: Network regulation, including ensuring that the electricity network has the capacity to meet increased electricity demand from Low Carbon Technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps is a matter for Ofgem, the independent energy regulator. Ofgem uses the RIIO price control framework to incentivise electricity network companies to invest in the grid, providing a safe, secure and reliable network for all consumers at the lowest possible cost. Ofgem is currently formulating the next electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED2) due to commence in April 2023.Government maintains regular engagement with Ofgem and electricity network companies to support them in providing consumers with a network capable of delivering future electricity requirements.

Heat Pumps

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to close the gap between the 30,000 heat pumps a year currently being installed and the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation of installing 900,000 heat pumps a year by 2028.

Greg Hands: In the Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government set out a range of policies that will enable the heat pump market to grow to 600,000 installations per year by 2028. This level of deployment will keep the UK on track to meet its net zero ambitions, without pre-empting decisions to be taken by the middle of the decade on the future of the gas grid and the role of hydrogen.

Renewable Energy

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to introduce more renewable energy sources into the UK energy supply; and when those sources will be in place.

Greg Hands: The Contracts for Difference scheme is the Government’s main mechanism for supporting new low-carbon electricity generation projects in Great Britain. The fourth allocation round of the Contracts for Difference scheme (AR4) opened on 13 December 2021. £285 million a year will be provided to businesses in AR4, which aims to secure more low-carbon electricity capacity than the previous three rounds combined. AR4 is open to an expanded number of renewable technologies, including offshore wind, onshore wind, solar, tidal stream and floating offshore wind. Renewable electricity generation has more than quadrupled since 2010 having delivered over 40% of generation in 2020, outpacing fossil fuels for the first time ever, and is on track to deliver the majority of electricity by 2030.

Fuel Poverty: Rhondda Cynon Taf

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of number of households currently in fuel poverty in (a) Cynon Valley constituency and (b) Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority.

Greg Hands: Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and different metrics of fuel poverty are used in the Devolved Administrations. BEIS has responsibility for the measurement of fuel poverty in England therefore no estimate has been made by BEIS on levels of fuel poverty in the Cynon Valley constituency or the Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority in Wales. Such estimates are managed by the Welsh Government.

Fuel Poverty: Rhondda Cynon Taf

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of number of additional households likely to enter fuel poverty as a result of OFGEM decision to raise the price cap by £693 to £1971 in (a) Cynon Valley constituency and (b) Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority.

Greg Hands: Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and different metrics of fuel poverty are used in the Devolved Administrations. BEIS has responsibility for the measurement of fuel poverty in England, therefore no estimate has been made by BEIS on levels of fuel poverty in the Cynon Valley constituency or the Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority in Wales. Such estimates are managed by the Welsh Government. The Government is committed to protecting customers from price spikes, particularly vulnerable customers. The Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment help ensure the most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the colder months. Energy efficiency support is also available through programmes such as the Energy Company Obligation Scheme. Additionally, households in Great Britain will receive a £200 cash rebate on their energy costs from October. The Energy Price Cap will remain in place at least till the end of 2022 to ensure millions of customers pay a fair price for their energy.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of Nesta’s report entitled The Missing 4 Billion, published 27 May 2020.

George Freeman: Government considered a range of evidence and analysis in developing the R&D measures in the Levelling Up White Paper, including Nesta’s ‘The Mission £4bn’ report. The Levelling White Paper sets out a series of measures to ensure that R&D supports levelling up across the country. Public investment in R&D outside the Greater South East will increase by at least one third over the Spending Review period and at least 40 percent by 2030. This additional government funding will seek to leverage at least twice as much private sector investment over the long term to stimulate innovation and productivity growth. Supporting delivery of this goal, BEIS will make levelling up one of the objectives of its R&D investment strategy and will aim for the regions outside the Greater South East to receive at least 55% of its R&D budget by 2024/25. Alongside increasing investment in innovation across the country, BEIS will invest £100m between 2022-3 and 2024-5 to pilot three new Innovation Accelerators centred on Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Glasgow City-Region. Innovation Accelerators will develop UK innovation clusters, boosting economic growth by investing in high-quality projects to grow R&D strengths, attract private investment, boost innovation diffusion, and maximise the combined economic impact of R&D institutions.

Research: Expenditure

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will provide a regional breakdown of (a) his Department's R&D spending overall and (b) UKRI’s spending in the financial year (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21 and (iii) 2021-22.

George Freeman: In the Levelling Up White paper BEIS committed to work to collect this data at a regional level for all of its R&D spend. UKRI publish detailed breakdowns of their funding data at a regional level annually, the latest available data is on UKRI's Regional distribution of funding – UKRI. In addition, the UKRI Gateway https://gtr.ukri.org/ provides data on publicly funded research and innovation which is searchable by year and region.

Research: Regional Planning and Development

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he will take to prevent universities and other institutions in the greater south east from setting up campuses in other regions for the purposes of claiming levelling up funding.

George Freeman: Our record increase in R&D investment to £20bn by 2024/25 means universities and businesses in the Greater South East will continue to benefit from public R&D investment. Public R&D funding will continue to be awarded competitively and open to universities, businesses and organisations across the whole UK. The Paul Nurse review will look across the landscape of UK organisations undertaking all forms of research, development and innovation. This review will highlight the strengths to be nurtured and any comparative weaknesses to be tackled, and make recommendations for addressing them. Sir Paul Nurse will report on his review in early summer 2022.

Life Sciences

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2022 to Question 114739 on Life Sciences, whether details of the funding will be broken by (a) disease, (b) geographic region and (c) research body; and when he plans to announce how funding for those Research and Development budgets will be allocated.

George Freeman: Further details of how this funding will be allocated will be announced in due course.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help produce the next generation of vaccines to tackle transmission rates of covid-19.

George Freeman: The Government is working closely with vaccine developers to understand any plans for future vaccines and to ensure vaccines’ continued efficacy against new Variants of Concern. The Vaccine Taskforce keeps emerging vaccine technologies under review and is aware that some developers have begun development of variant-specific and multivariant formulations.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Government

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Northern Ireland.

Conor Burns: The decision by the DUP to withdraw the First Minister from the Northern Ireland Executive is extremely disappointing. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland continues to speak to Northern Ireland’s political leaders to urge a return to ministerial roles and ensure the necessary delivery of public services for the citizens of Northern Ireland. In the meantime, the Assembly under the new rules can continue to function. It is therefore right that MLAs are allowed the time and space to pass legislation before the Assembly election on the 5 May.

Northern Ireland Office: Chief Scientific Advisers

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many meetings he had with his Department's Chief Scientific Adviser from (a) 1 March to 31 May 2021, (b) 1 June to 31 August 2021 and (c) 1 September to 30 November 2021.

Conor Burns: The Northern Ireland Office does not have a Departmental Scientific Adviser.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Chief Scientific Advisers

Greg Clark: To ask the Attorney General, how many meetings she had with her Department's Chief Scientific Adviser from (a) 1 March to 31 May 2021, (b) 1 June to 31 August 2021 and (c) 1 September to 30 November 2021.

Alex Chalk: The Attorney General’s Office does not have a Chief Scientific Adviser.

Department of Health and Social Care

Congenital Abnormalities: Air Pollution

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department (a) has conducted or (b) holds information on research on the relationship between exposure to air pollution before or just after conception and the prevalence of birth defects in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland.

Maggie Throup: The Department has over £6.8 million currently invested in research relating to air pollution through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR supports a broad spectrum of research on the effects of air quality on health, including the relationship between exposure to air pollutants and adverse birth outcomes across England, Scotland and Wales. This is primarily through the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Environmental Exposures and Health at Imperial College London in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The Department identifies priorities for research into air pollution based on recommendations from the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) and UKHSA. COMEAP is preparing a report which will consider the evidence linking preterm birth, low birth weight and stillbirth with maternal exposure to air pollution including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide, and Ozone, during pregnancy. The Committee’s report will be published and publicly available in mid-2022.

Liver Diseases: Health Services

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to tackle geographical variation in the (a) provision and (b) delivery of NHS liver treatment services.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will prioritise the treatment of liver disease in the context of that disease being the most common cause of premature mortality in the UK; and what plans his Department has to ensure that NHS planning and policy (a) recognises and (b) responds to the severity of that disease.

Maria Caulfield: Liver disease as a priority in the NHS Long Term Plan. A key priorities for the National Health Service in 2022/23 is to continue to develop the approach to population health management, prevent ill health and address health inequalities. In autumn 2021, NHS England commissioned a health inequalities stocktake in relation to liver disease, which confirmed that geographical variation is seen in many indicators for risk factors, morbidity and mortality associated with liver disease. The Hepatobiliary Clinical Reference Group is reviewing the stocktake findings, which will help guide and inform priorities for action in 2022/23. NHS England has prioritised the World Health Organisation (WHO) goal to eliminate Hepatitis C, a significant cause of end stage liver disease, as a public health issue in advance of the WHO 2030 target.

Haemochromatosis: Screening

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make funding available for a national screening trial for genetic haemochromatosis.

Maria Caulfield: No funding has been made available for a national screening trial for genetic haemochromatosis as the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not commission trials for screening. This would be a consideration for the National Institute for Health Research to consider.The UK NSC reviewed the evidence to introduce screening for Haemochromatosis in 2021 and recommended that a population screening programme should not be introduced. The UK NSC reported on the gaps in the evidence base so others might set up research trials to advance the development base for this condition.

Special Educational Needs: Ophthalmic Services

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the establishment of the NHS Special Schools Eye Care Service.

Maria Caulfield: A Proof-of-Concept programme was launched by NHS England and NHS Improvement in 2021 to provide sight tests and the dispensing of glasses on school premises to children and young people with learning disabilities and autism attending residential special schools. The programme will run during the 2022/2023 financial year and NHS England and NHS Improvement hopes to undertake a service evaluation between April and July 2023.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation on changing the qualifying age for free prescriptions in England to 66 years of age.

Edward Argar: The consultation on increasing the upper age exemption for free prescriptions to align it with the state pension age closed on 3 September 2021. No decisions on the proposals have yet been made. We will respond to the consultation and announce our next steps in due course.

Members: Correspondence

Robert Largan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the enquiry from the hon. Member for High Peak of 27 August 2021, reference RL26309.

Edward Argar: We replied to the hon. Member on 31 January 2022.

Surgery: Costs

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the cost of using the independent sector in his plan for elective care; and whether he has costed NHS alternative provision for elective care.

Edward Argar: We have provided £2 billion in 2021/22 to increase elective care activity and committed a further £8 billion over the next three years. Detailed planning guidance on the use of this funding will be published by NHS England and NHS Improvement in due course, including delivering additional activity through the independent sector.

Surgery: Waiting Lists

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that people on elective waiting lists can access the psychological support if required.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take to ensure that people on elective waiting lists for orthopaedic procedures receive adequate physical and mental health support interventions.

Edward Argar: We are developing guidance for local health systems to provide personalised and targeted support for patients and their carers to manage symptoms, prevent deterioration and recover effectively. Through the My Planned Care platform, providers will offer information to help patients self-manage and local and community support offers and other routes while people wait for care. This platform will launch shortly with additional resources available from spring 2022.

Hospitals: Agency Workers

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 21 October 2021 to Question 56966 on NHS: Agency Workers, what the total cost to NHS hospitals has been of using (a) agency staff and (b) bank staff (i) in the financial year 2020-21 and (ii) since 1 April 2021.

Edward Argar: Total costs for bank and agency staff for 2020-21 and year to date for 2021-22 are not available.

Health Professions: Training

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are training to become (a) doctors and (b) nurses in the UK.

Edward Argar: Health Education England estimates that in the 2021/22 academic year there are over 72,000 student nurses in training in England.In the 2019/20 academic year there were 45,605 undergraduate medical students in the United Kingdom, of which 32,745 were training in England, according to data provided to the General Medical Council (GMC) by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.Student medics register with GMC when they begin their course, because of that there are more accurate numbers available for the numbers training to be doctors.These figures include anyone at any point in their degree. Nursing degrees are usually three years, medical degrees four to six years.

Cancer: Nurses

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of cancer specialist nurses.

Edward Argar: The Department has made no such estimate as the data is not held centrally.

Midwives: Retirement

Taiwo Owatemi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS midwives in England are recorded as having retired in each month since January 2020.

Edward Argar: NHS Digital collects Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups, but not staff working in General Practice surgeries, local authorities or other providers.Data on the National Health Service (NHS) workforce is drawn from the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). ESR is the Human resources (HR) and payroll system for the NHS.The following table shows data for HCHS midwives who left the NHS with a recorded reason for leaving of ‘retirement’, in England, January 2020 to July 2021, headcount.PeriodReason for Leaving ‘Retirement’, HeadcountJanuary 202050February 202050March 202052April 202088May 202043June 202044July 202043August 202062September 202042October 202050November 202075December 202073January 202161February 202131March 202145April 2021100May 202166June 202165July 202167 The reason for leaving ‘Retirement’ reproduced in these statistics is the value as input by individual organisations as part of their standard HR processes. The reason for leaving information is not completed for all leavers so not all episodes of retirement may be captured in these figures.

Midwives: Students

Taiwo Owatemi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many student midwives were in receipt of a bursary in the most recent two academic years for which figures are available; what the average bursary paid to a student midwife was in each of those years; and what the total cost of those bursaries was to his Department in each year.

Edward Argar: 2016/17 was the final year that students starting undergraduate midwifery courses were eligible for funding under the NHS Bursary system. A small number of these students are still finishing their course and eligible for Bursary payments. These are typically students who had to pause their studies for personal reasons.NHS BSA Bursary Payments (2020-2021).2020/21 academic year 2021/22 academic yearTotal bursary paid out to midwives£354,884£25,932Midwives in receipt of bursary11316Average bursary paid out per midwife student£3,141£1,621Source: NHS Business Services Authority DataThe average paid out in the 2021/22 academic year will increase because we are only part way through the academic year and eligible students will continue to receive payments as the year progresses.

Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndrome: Health Services

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what practical steps he is taking to ensure that the experiences and interests of children with fetal valproate syndrome and their families are represented as an integral part of patient involvement at every level of the NHS in England.

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information is provided by the Department and NHS England to midwives on the use of sodium valproate in pregnancy in order to help them prepare an expectant mother of the teratogenic effects.

Maria Caulfield: NHS England and NHS Improvement have commissioned the Paediatric Neurosciences Clinical Reference Group to develop care pathways and a service specification to improve for patient support and co-ordination for children affected by teratogen exposure. A multi-disciplinary group including patient representatives and expert clinicians with experience in responding to and managing teratogen exposure has been established. The group will report its recommendations to NHS England and NHS Improvement in March 2022.The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology’s guidance recommends that all women with epilepsy of childbearing age are counselled on the risk of sodium valproate. In the first instance, this will take place with the woman’s neurologist and general practitioner. The Royal College recommends that such counselling is provided by a clinician competent in the management of epilepsy, usually a neurologist and or an obstetrician with a special interest in epilepsy. Midwives may take a supporting role, unless they specifically work in this context and have obtained additional training.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason his Department has taken over responsibility from covid-19 vaccine manufacturers for negligence claims arising from their vaccines causing serious illness or death; and when he plans to return producer liability to those manufacturers.

Maria Caulfield: Given the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the terms on which developers have been willing to supply vaccines, the United Kingdom and other national Governments around the world, took a broad approach to indemnification proportionate to the situation. The European Union’s and the UK’s law recognises it is unfair to ask manufacturers and healthcare professionals to take the usual level of responsibility for consequences if they supply a product in adherence with the Government’s conditions in the event of a global pandemic.The Department is providing indemnities in the unexpected event of any adverse reactions that could not have been foreseen through the robust checks and procedures put in place. Appropriate indemnities for vaccine suppliers secured access to vaccines at the earliest opportunity. The Department will continue to keep this under review. We are unable to provide the information requested regarding contracts between the Government and vaccine manufacturers as this is commercially sensitive.

NHS Blood and Transplant: Training

Taiwo Owatemi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2021 to Question 56519 on Blood: Donors, what updated guidance and training has been issued to front line NHS Blood and Transplant Service staff following changes to blood donation rules.

Maria Caulfield: Prior to the removal of the question asking potential donors whether their recent sexual partners may have ever had sex in HIV endemic areas, training sessions were delivered to lead nurses on all blood donation teams. The sessions were accompanied with a comprehensive briefing document and plan to raise awareness. Lead nurses were then responsible for cascading this training to all blood collection teams.In addition, the Joint United Kingdom Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee published a Change Notification for the blood services, alerting them to the updated guidelines in relation to the removal of this question. The notification can be found at the following link:https://www.transfusionguidelines.org/document-library/change-notifications/change-notifications-issued-in-2021

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress his Department has made on discussions with the Dutch Government to allow the continued supply of bedrocan oil beyond 1 April 2022.

Maria Caulfield: The Dutch Government has confirmed that they will extend the current waiver to allow continued supply of Bedrocan oils against United Kingdom prescriptions for existing patients until 1 April 2022 to allow for domestic production to be established. The Department continues to work closely with the Dutch Government, the Home Office and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to ensure continuity of supply of Bedrocan oils beyond this period.

Breast Cancer

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women aged between 40 and 50 have been diagnosed with breast cancer since January 2021.

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women under the age of 35 have been diagnosed with breast cancer since January 2021.

Maria Caulfield: The department does not hold this information in the format requested.

Strokes: Health Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that all stroke patients are able to be assessed within an hour of their stroke.

Maria Caulfield: The National Stroke Service Model was published in May 2021 which advises providers and commissioners on how stroke units can ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatment within one hour of arrival.In 2022, the National Health Service will fund the implementation of pre-hospital video triage for people with a suspected stroke in a number of locations in England. Patients will receive a video consultation from their home or in an ambulance with a hospital-based stroke clinician, who will advise paramedics. This will increase the specificity of pre-hospital stroke assessment, ensuring those who require treatment in a stroke unit receive it and increase the speed and quality of hyperacute care, including assessment.

Parkinson's Disease: Research

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure Parkinson’s research is fully funded in the UK.

Maria Caulfield: The government has committed to invest at least £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research over the next five years to fund projects into a range of diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. The Government will provide this funding through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The NIHR and UKRI welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including Parkinson’s disease. All applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people awaiting an invitation for breast cancer screening.

Maria Caulfield: This data is currently not held in the format requested. The number of women receiving breast screening over the course of 2020/21 will be available to the public and the Department on 24 February, when NHS Digital publish Official Statistics for the NHS Breast Screening Programme in England for 2020/21. This will be available at the following link:Breast Screening Programme - NHS DigitalNHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that volume of invitations going out for breast screening are now greater than pre-pandemic levels and services have increased capacity, backed by additional financial investment, including putting on evening and weekend clinics.

Dental Services: Children

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that every child has access to an NHS dentist in line with NICE guidelines; what estimate has been made of the number of children (a) in the Brighton and Hove CCG area and (b) nationally who have not been to see an NHS dentist in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how children in the Brighton and Hove CCG area who cannot access an NHS dentist can access dental treatment in line with NICE guidelines; by what date it will be possible for every child in the Brighton and Hove CCG area to access NHS dental treatment; what steps he is taking to ensure all dental practices in Brighton and Hove CCG area have space to accommodate new child patients on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Caulfield: Data on the number of children in Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group unable to see a National Health Service dentist in the last 12 months is not held centrally.NHS dental practices, including in Brighton and Hove, have been asked to meet as many prioritised needs as is safely possible. They are prioritising urgent care, care for vulnerable groups and children, followed by delayed planned care. An additional £50 million for NHS dentistry has been made available for the remainder of 2021/22 to allow more patients who have been unable to obtain an appointment. The available appointments will be targeted first at those most in need of urgent dental treatment, vulnerable groups and children.Where parents are unable to access an urgent dental appointment for their child directly through a NHS dental practice, they should contact NHS 111 for assistance. The Department, NHS England and NHS Improvement and the British Dental Association are also developing proposals for reforming NHS dentistry. One of the main aims is to improve patient access to NHS care.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timeframe is for enabling access to people under 16 years of age to the NHS COVID Pass.

Maggie Throup: Since 13 December, fully vaccinated 12-15 year olds can demonstrate their vaccination status using an NHS COVID Pass travel letter.Since 3 February, children aged 12 years old and over are able to get a digital NHS COVID Pass for international travel. The digital NHS COVID Pass provides a record of COVID-19 vaccinations received and shows evidence of prior infection (recovery) for 180 days following a positive National Health Service (NHS) PCR test. The pass is available via the NHS.UK website for those aged 12 years old and over and via the NHS App for those aged 13 and over.Children under 18 years old are exempt from certification requirements at events and venues in England choosing to check COVID-19 status.

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that loop-mediated isothermal amplification covid-19 tests are provided in all special needs settings.

Maggie Throup: The UK Health Security Agency trialled the use of direct loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), the most mature saliva test that is validated and available to deploy, for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in a small number of restricted pilots. It was also considered for other appropriate settings.Results of the trials showed that this was not appropriate for national use in SEND settings. We continue to work with select SEND settings to provide LAMP testing where appropriate

Wales Office

National Insurance Contributions: Newport West

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the impact of the National Insurance contribution rise on (a) households and (b) employers in Newport West constituency.

Simon Hart: I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including National Insurance contributions (NICs). The Government is committed to responsible management of the public finances. That is why the Government has taken the tough but responsible decision to increase taxes, introducing a UK-wide 1.25% Health and Social Care Levy based on NICs, in order to fund a significant increase in permanent spending on the NHS and social care. Regarding the impact on households; NICs is progressive, the Primary Threshold means that the lowest earners do not pay any NICs. The highest earning 15% will pay over half the revenues raised by the Levy and 6.1 million people earning less than the Primary Threshold (equivalent to £9,880 a year in 2022-23) will not pay the Levy. Regarding the impact on businesses; while it is fair that businesses contribute, as they benefit from having a healthy workforce, big businesses will pay the most. 70% of the money raised from business will come from the biggest 1% of employers (those with at least 250 employees). Just under 40% of all employers with employer NICs/Levy liabilities (630,000 employers) are expected not to pay the Levy due to the Employment Allowance. The next 42% of businesses (675,000 employers) will face an average increase of £475 per year, less than 1% of their overall wage bill.

Wales Office: Chief Scientific Advisers

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings he had with his Department's Chief Scientific Adviser from (a) 1 March to 31 May 2021, (b) 1 June to 31 August 2021 and (c) 1 September to 30 November 2021.

Simon Hart: The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales does not have a Chief Scientific Adviser.

Department for Education

Graduates: Employment

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many graduates gained employment in the early years sector in the last 12 months for which data is available.

Michelle Donelan: The exact information requested is not available, however, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on the outcomes of graduates 15 months after qualifying from higher education in the graduate outcomes survey, further information about the survey is available here: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/graduates. From this, the department estimates that approximately 1% of UK domiciled first-degree graduates from English higher education providers in 2018/19 progressed to employment in the early years sector[1] in the UK 15 months after qualifying. According to separate statistics published by HESA, there were a total of 295,825 UK domiciled first-degree qualifiers from English higher education providers in that year. These are available here: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/table-26.The department also knows that the majority of the early years workforce are not graduates. The survey of childcare and early years providers 2021 estimated that around 32% of early years staff in schools were qualified to degree level in 2021, relative to 11% in private and voluntary group-based providers, the survey can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1039675/Main_summary_survey_of_childcare_and_early_years_providers_2021.pdf. No substantial changes have taken place in the distributions of staff qualification levels in this sector over recent years.[1] Identified using relevant Standard Occupational Classification codes 2315 Nursery education teaching professionals, 2324 Early education and childcare services managers, 3222 Child and early years officers, 3232 Early education and childcare practitioners, 6111 Early education and childcare assistants, 6114 Childminders, 6116 Nannies and au pairs and 6117 Playworkers: https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classificationsandstandards/standardoccupationalclassificationsoc/soc2020.

Children in Care: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact on the social care workforce's capacity to manage the safety of children and young people in care of the increase in the number of children who have been taken into care in York over the last year.

Will Quince: We are working closely with local authorities to recognise and understand their workforce pressures and using central programmes and funding to respond to local authority needs. The safety of children and young people in care forms part of the government’s Independent Review of Children’s Social Care led by Josh MacAlister.A focused visit which took place in July 2019 noted some areas for improvement in the quality of services for children in need of help and protection at York. Since the visit, leaders have put in place an Improvement Board, underpinned by an Improvement Plan.The rate of children looked after in York increased slightly from 72 per 10,000 in 2020 to 76 per 10,000 in 2021. This is above the national average (67 per 10,000) but below the Yorkshire and Humber regional average (78 per 10,000).Quarterly data provided by the Regional Improvement and Investment Alliance shows that since Quarter 4 2020/21 the rate of children becoming looked after in York has been low and below Yorkshire and Humber averages, suggesting improving and effective child protection processes enabling more children to stay with their families with appropriate support. This is supported by an increase in the rate of children subject to a second child protection plan in Quarters 1 and 2 2021, suggesting York may be using the child protection process to support children as an alternative to more costly looked-after children’s procedures.We continue to monitor York’s performance through regular reviews and risk assessment of performance data. Alongside this, the department maintains regular contact with the local authority through regular Regional Improvement Support Lead catch-ups with the Director of Children’s Services and feedback from Improvement Board meetings.

Nurseries: Staff

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many nurseries have had to (a) close or (b) turn children away due to a reduction in staffing numbers in the last week (a) in York and (b) nationally in the last 2 years.

Will Quince: The department does not hold information on how many nurseries have had to close, or reduce attendance, due to a reduction in staffing numbers over the last two years. However, the department has monitored the status of early years settings during the COVID-19 outbreak, from April 2020 to December 2021. On 9 December 2021, 5% of early years settings were reported to be closed. Data for York shows that 1 setting out of 214 was reported by their local authority to be closed on that date.The department is also currently inviting nurseries to take part in a short-term, regular survey running to understand the impact of COVID-19 on early years settings. This focuses on workforce and child absences.Due to low sample sizes, the department does not analyse or publish the findings of this survey at a local authority level, but can provide national figures. For the week commencing 17 January, 5% of settings reported to be partially open, while 2% were temporarily or permanently closed. Of the fully or partially open providers responding to the survey, 4% said their provision remained open but with restricted attendance because of workforce absences.

Special Educational Needs: Transport

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding has been allocated to the SEND transport budget (a) in York and (b) nationally in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: The government does not provide a specific amount to local authorities for spending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) transport. Funding for children’s services, including SEND transport, is part of the wider local government finance settlement. The department does not hold Section 251 data which covers both national and local authority SEND transport gross expenditure, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/la-and-school-expenditure.The gross expenditure, from financial years 2016/17 to 2020/21, for York and nationally can be found in the attached table.118584_table (xls, 42.5KB)

Religion: Education

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the judgment in R (Fox) v Secretary of State for Education [2015] EWHC 3404, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to sections 3 and 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 on his policies on the delivery of religious education.

Mr Robin Walker: Whilst the administrative court ruled against the department in the case of R (Fox) v Secretary of State for Education, the government considered the judgment to have no broader impact on any aspect of its policy in relation to the religious education curriculum or religious studies GCSE subject content for schools, with or without a religious character.In December 2015, the department responded to this judgment by publishing guidance for schools and awarding organisations about the religious studies GCSE, alongside the religious studies GCSE subject content, at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-religious-studies.The proposed reforms to the Human Rights Act (1998) are currently subject to a public consultation which will run until 8 March 2022. The department will make an assessment of any impact of these reforms on the delivery of religious education once they have been confirmed.

Schools: Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of maintained school revenue balances in 2020-21 by share of FSM-eligible children in schools.

Mr Robin Walker: The department pays close attention to the financial health of the sector, analysing maintained schools’ consistent financial reporting returns and academies’ accounting returns. The latest published figures show both maintained schools and academy trusts have on average been able to add to their reserves in the latest reporting year.The schools financial benchmarking website allows schools and trusts to compare their financial data with other schools that share similar characteristics, including similar levels of free school meal (FSM) eligibility. The website is available here: https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/.A full dataset used to produce this analysis for schools can be found here: https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/Help/DataSources.In financial year 2022-23, the National Funding Formula (NFF) will allocate £6.7 billion (17% of all funding allocated by the NFF) through additional needs factors, including pupils eligible for FSM. That includes an increase of £225 million, or 6.7%, in the amount distributed through deprivation factors. In addition, in financial year 2022-23, schools will receive a supplementary grant, which will provide significant further funding for deprivation: £85 for each primary pupil and £124 for each secondary pupil who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years (FSM6). Schools’ individual allocations from the supplementary grant will be finalised in the coming months.On top of this core funding, pupil premium funding rates are increasing by 2.7% in financial year 2022-23, to £1,385 for each FSM6 primary pupil and £985 for each FSM6 secondary pupil. This means that the per pupil funding rate will be the highest, in cash terms, since the introduction of the pupil premium in 2011. Total pupil premium funding will increase to over £2.6 billion in 2022-23, from £2.5 billion this year.All schools continue to be able to access a wide range of school resource management tools so they can more effectively invest their resources into areas that improve educational outcomes for all pupils. Schools in serious financial difficulty should contact their local authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Officers: Recruitment

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications to become a band 3-5 prison officer were received in each year since 2010.

James Cartlidge: The number of applications to become a band 3-5 prison officer received in each year since 2017, is shown in the table below. Data prior to 2017 is not available as it is not held on the Oleeo Recruitment Database.YearNumber of Applications - Band 3Number of Applications - Band 4Number of Applications - Band 5Total2017138,0831,569740140,392201897,8481,8291,426101,103201962,1742,0761,28165,531202080,3052,67197483,950202173,7853,2921,33678,413Notes:This data comes from the Oleeo Recruitment Database.Oleeo is a live system so figures may be subject to change.Data was only collected on Oleeo from 2017 and so data is not available for earlier dates.The majority of prison officer recruitment is at Band 3 and is external to the civil service.Band 3 to 5 prison officers consists of band 3 prison officers, band 4 officer specialists, band 4 supervising officers, and band 5 custodial managers.These figures include applications to the “Unlocked Graduate Scheme”, and to Operational Support Grade to Prison Officer / Youth Justice Worker fast track campaigns.Figures do not include recruitment campaigns managed by external companies.This data only includes recruitment for Public Sector Prisons.Youth Justice Worker applications are included in the count of Prison Officer applications.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she intends to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire dated 17 November 2021 regarding persecution of Christians around the world and the Bishop of Truro's 2019 report, reference ZA58272.

Amanda Milling: A response was sent on 21 December 2021, and an additional copy has been sent to the Member's office.

Sudan: Demonstrations

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of recent trends of mass violence and killings of peaceful protestors by Sudanese security forces; and whether her Department has plans to take steps in response to this matter.

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans her Department has to help support a peaceful transition of power in Sudan; and if she will make a statement.

Vicky Ford: We remain concerned at the political crisis and continued violent repression of protesters in Sudan. We continue to show our support for a return to the democratic transition and maintain pressure on the Sudanese military to end violence against protesters. On 4 January, the Troika (UK, Norway, US) and EU issued a statement urging all sides to engage in dialogue to end the crisis and we welcome that the UN are now facilitating talks. With our Sudan Quad (UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, US) partners we released a statement on 8 January urging all political actors to seize this opportunity. Since the 25 October coup, British Embassy staff in Khartoum, the UK Special Representative to Sudan and South Sudan and other FCDO officials have also engaged with all parties to encourage dialogue and demonstrate support for the democratic transition.Although details cannot be verified at least 70 protesters have been killed since the coup and killings continue. An integral part of our advocacy for a return to Sudan's democratic transition has been our calls for ordinary Sudanese to be able to protest without fear of violence, and for accountability for all human rights violations. This includes statements with the Troika and Quad, as well as by the Foreign Secretary and me. We also helped to secure a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in November to maintain scrutiny on the situation. With partners we continue to consider all options to maintain pressure on the Sudanese military to protect human rights, recommit to the democratic transition and deliver people's demands for freedom, peace and justice. This includes the possibility of measures to deliver accountability such as sanctions. However it is longstanding convention not to speculate on the specifics of such options.

Niger: Politics and Government

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the Government of Niger in preventing any possible military coup.

Vicky Ford: The UK is committed to supporting long-term peace and stability in Niger. Since 2018, we have expanded our diplomatic presence in Niger, with the appointment of the first resident Ambassador in 2020 - a significant step in strengthening our partnership with the Government of Niger. My predecessor visited Niger in July last year, shortly after the democratic transition of power to President Bazoum, which the UK welcomed.The UK supports Niger through humanitarian, stabilisation, and development assistance, including support to Niger's High Authority for the Consolidation of the Peace, and the UN's Regional Stabilisation Facility in the Diffa region. We work closely with international partners to maximise the collective value of our programmes in strengthening Nigerien capacity to address the security, economic and development challenges facing Niger. We also support stability in the wider region through our deployment of Chinook helicopters to the French counter-terrorism mission Barkhane and our deployment to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA). As I stated on 2 February, the UK remains committed to supporting democratic institutions in West Africa and is watching developments in the region closely.

Nigeria: Development Aid

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership Inaugural Dialogue Communique, published on 2 February 2022, what estimate she has made the amount of UK funding allocated in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) future years to (i) policing reform in Nigeria, (ii) stabilisation, civil-military cooperation and peacebuilding in Nigeria, (iii) training for the Nigerian military on International Humanitarian Law, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and the protection of civilians, (iv) training on human rights, and sexual and gender-based violence for the police in North East Nigeria, (v) technical advice and experience sharing in relation to efficiency, fairness and efficacy in justice for victims of conflict and for those accused of terrorism offences, (vi) training and the deployment of specialist advisors in relation to taking into account gender perspectives during security operations, (vii) training and capacity building support for Nigeria’s efforts to address terrorist and other insurgent forces in the North East region, (viii) building maritime capabilities and supporting on port security, (ix) delivery of a new Prevent Pilot programme to address the drivers and enablers of Serious and Organised Crime, (x) delivery of kidnapping management and negotiation courses and sponsoring a National Kidnap Conference in Nigeria, (xi) partnership working to tackle illicit financial flows and strengthening cooperation on asset return and (xii) support and training on aviation security.

Vicky Ford: At the inaugural UK-Nigeria Security and Defence dialogue, held between 31st January and 2nd February in London, the UK and Nigeria agreed future cooperation to respond to shared threats, and to support Nigerian efforts to tackle a range of security and human rights challenges. That cooperation and support includes provision of technical assistance, advice, and training, some of which will be provided by in-country UK Government officials, and some delivered through programming.Our Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Lake Chad Basin programme will support many of the commitments in the dialogue communique, including those on police reform, stabilisation and civil-military cooperation, human rights training for the military and police, including on sexual and gender-based violence, and training and capacity-building support for Nigeria's efforts to respond to terrorism. Our Lake Chad Basin programme is worth £15.65 million between FY 2021 - 22.The Ministry of Defence, National Crime Agency, Home Office, and Department for Transport will, through their programmes, also support commitments made at the dialogue.We regularly raise insecurity and human rights in Nigeria with the Nigerian Government. On 1 February, I discussed insecurity with National Security Advisor Monguno, as part of the dialogue. We will continue to urge and support the Nigerian Government to take action to implement long-term solutions that address the root causes of violence.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish details of how the British Council referral pathway will identify people eligible for resettlement in the UK through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement scheme.

James Cleverly: On 6 January the Government announced the opening of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Under the third pathway, and in the first year, the Government will consider for resettlement British Council and Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni at risk. We are working closely with the British Council on how to identify British Council contractors most at risk.

Ministry of Defence

Israel and Pakistan: Nuclear Weapons

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate his Department has made of the strength of (a) Pakistan's and (b) Israel's nuclear arsenal.

Jeremy Quin: The hon. Member’s question is a matter for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Department for Work and Pensions

Poverty: Children

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Government Response to the Concluding Observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2016, what steps her Department has taken to set up accountability mechanisms for the eradication of child poverty by (a) re-establishing targets with a set time frame, (b) measurable indicators and (c) regular monitoring and reporting on child poverty reduction.

David Rutley: The child poverty targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010 were abolished in 2016 and we have no plans to reintroduce them. We believe that an approach to tackling child poverty focused primarily on meeting income-based targets, can drive action that focuses primarily on moving the incomes for those ‘just in poverty’ just above a ‘poverty line’ whilst doing nothing to help those on the very lowest incomes or to improve children’s future prospects. In their place, we introduced two new statutory indicators to track progress on parental worklessness and children’s educational attainment – the two areas which can make the biggest difference to children’s long-term outcomes.DWP tracks and monitors many different aspects of poverty, including our four statutory measures of relative income, absolute income, combined low income and material deprivation and persistent poverty. National Statistics on the number of people in low income and children and pensioners in material deprivation are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication: Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) We also measure poverty’s root causes and long-term impacts as part of our Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families publication: Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families indicators 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Measures of persistent poverty are published annually in Income Dynamics: Income Dynamics: 2010 to 2019 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Livestock: Waste Disposal

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions there have been for breach of regulations in relation to fallen stock in each of the last five years.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with fox hunts about fallen stock in the last five years.

Jo Churchill: Local authorities have the statutory duty to prosecute for offences under the Animal Health Act 1981 and provide information of any successful prosecutions annually. It is presented in a parliamentary report which is available on gov.uk. A summary of that data shows that the following number of prosecutions were made under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013, although the data does not specify whether the prosecutions relate to fallen stock; such information would have to be sought from the local authorities themselves. 2016 – 222017 – 182018 – 302019 – 382020 – 152020 – Data not yet available The Secretary of State has not recently met any organisations running hunts to discuss this issue.

Clothing: Disclosure of Information

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to improve transparency in the fashion supply chain by (a) providing the information on clothing labels or (b) other steps to allow consumers to easily access information on a garment's carbon footprint when making a purchase.

Jo Churchill: In the Government’s Resources & Waste Strategy we committed to provide consumers with better information on products when they purchase items, such as textiles and clothing. Our draft Waste Prevention Programme for England published in March 2021 identified textiles as one of seven key sectors for action and outlined the steps we are taking to improve information. Through our landmark Environment Act 2021 we have powers to require better information on the resource efficiency of products to enable informed consumer choice.We will be assessing options this year on what type of information would best support more sustainable purchasing decisions for textiles products, before making decisions. We are also providing funding to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to update their environmental footprint modelling tool later this year, working with industry signatories to the Textiles 2030 scheme. This will increase the level, availability and transparency of data relating to carbon emissions across the life cycle of garments.

Horticulture: Recruitment

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the ornamental horticulture sector on seasonal worker recruitment.

Victoria Prentis: The Government recognises the importance of the ornamental horticultural sector to local economies and that a reliable source of seasonal labour is a key part of bringing in the harvest for the sector. I met with the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group most recently in December 2021 where we discussed the skills and labour challenges the industry is facing. Defra continues to speak regularly with the sector and other Government departments to understand labour supply and demand, including both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements, and to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the farming workforce. Defra is specifically working with industry and the Department for Work and Pensions to raise awareness of career opportunities in the horticulture sector among UK workers. All farming businesses are encouraged to advertise roles through the Find A Job website, where they can upload and manage their vacancies. The Government has announced that the Seasonal Worker Visa Route will be extended to 2024 to allow overseas workers to come to the UK for up to six months to harvest both edible and ornamental crops. 30,000 visas will be available this year. This will be kept under review with the potential to increase by 10,000 visas if there is clear evidence of need.

Seasonal Workers: Horticulture

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what procedures or studies his Department has put in place to monitor and communicate the availability of people with EU Settled Status in returning to seasonal worker roles in the horticulture and ornamental horticulture sectors.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what procedures or studies her Department has put in place to monitor the availability of people with EU Settled Status to work in seasonal worker roles in (a) ornamental horticulture and (b) horticulture.

Victoria Prentis: Defra works across Government and with industry throughout the year to observe the latest data on the composition of the UK horticultural workforce and to share this knowledge. This includes the availability of workers with EU Settled Status for these roles. In 2022 and beyond, agricultural businesses will continue to be able to rely on EU nationals living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status. Over 5.6 million EU citizens and their families have been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as of December 2021. EU nationals who have settled status can continue to travel to the UK to do seasonal work in 2022 and beyond. On 24 December 2021, the Government also announced that the Seasonal Worker Visa Route has been extended to 2024 to allow overseas workers to come to the UK for up to six months to harvest both edible and ornamental crops. 30,000 visas will be available in 2022. This will be kept under review with the potential to increase by 10,000 visas if there is clear evidence of need. In addition to these schemes, Defra is also working with the Department for Work and Pensions to raise awareness of career opportunities within the edible and ornamental horticulture sectors among UK workers, some of whom may have EU settled status.

Water Companies: Disclosure of Information

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department will take to ensure that water companies expand data sharing initiatives across the industry and with other utilities.

Rebecca Pow: We expect Ofwat to challenge water companies to expand data sharing initiatives across the industry and with other utilities. In Autumn 2022, Ofwat will undertake an evaluation of the progress made by the industry in the area of open data.

Water Companies: Standards

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps can be taken against water companies who (a) refuse or (b) fail to implement the recommendations of the Consumer Council for Water’s Affordability Review.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timeframe is for all water companies in England to (a) acknowledge and (b) implement the recommendations of the Consumer Council for Water’s Affordability Review.

Rebecca Pow: The Consumer Council for Water’s (CCW’s) Affordability Review was well received across the water sector. CCW is co-ordinating and monitoring progress against water companies’ implementation of its recommendations. Good progress is being made across all recommendations and in particular ten companies are currently trialling twelve innovative pilot schemes to improve awareness of and access to support measures. CCW plans to publish a “one-year-on” report in Summer 2022 which will evaluate the progress made on all ten recommendations of its Affordability Review.

Water Companies: Standards

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) sanctions will be made and (b) enforcement action will be taken against water companies that fail to plan, invest in, and operate water and wastewater services to secure the needs of current and future customers, in a way which delivers value to customers, the environment and wider society over the long-term.

Rebecca Pow: Water companies have a statutory duty to develop and maintain water service provision which will provide security of supply for customers. Statutory water resources management plans show how companies will meet this duty and manage water supply and demand for at least the next 25 years. The water supply duties, including the preparation and review of water resources management plans, are enforceable under the Water Industry Act 1991 by Ofwat and the Secretary of State. Additionally, water and sewerage companies are currently in the first cycle of non-statutory planning, known as Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs), and this is expected to be completed by companies in spring 2023. This planning process will help sewerage companies to fully assess wastewater network capacity and develop collaborative solutions. DWMPs will become statutory through the Environment Act 2021 when the first cycle ends in 2023. To ensure water and sewerage companies are delivering their plans, Ofwat, the economic regulator for the water industry, will be able to use existing levers to take enforcement action.

Water Companies: Environment Protection

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason his Department’s Strategic Priorities for OfWAT require support from the customers of water companies to deliver wider environmental benefits in the course of carrying out their functions.

Rebecca Pow: Water companies are regional monopolies and their investments are ultimately paid for by their customers. Customer engagement allows water companies to ensure their investments reflect customers' needs now and in the future and provides scrutiny of business plans to deliver good value for money.We set out in our Strategic Policy Statement to Ofwat, the expectation that Ofwat should promote efficient investment, ensuring it is made in a way that secures long-term resilience and protects and enhances the environment, whilst delivering value for money for customers, society and the environment over the long-term. The industry will need to provide intergenerational value and improved services, and Ofwat should also challenge companies to meet the needs of vulnerable customers, including the ‘transiently’ vulnerable.

Neonicotinoids

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the announcement of 14 January 2022 on Emergency pesticide authorisation approved to protect sugar beet in England if specific conditions are met, what assessment his Department has made of the environmental impact of such neonics; and if he will take steps to prevent pollinator decline in accordance with the National Pollinator Strategy.

Victoria Prentis: The emergency authorisation of Cruiser SB to protect sugar beet was given following a full assessment against the legal requirements. These are that there must be special circumstances, use must be limited and controlled, and the authorisation must appear necessary because of a danger that cannot be contained by other reasonable means. Scientific evaluation of any risks to humans, animals and the environment (including risks to bees and other pollinators) is central to the assessment. In taking the decision, the Secretary of State was informed by the assessment carried out by the Health and Safety Executive and additional scientific advice from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides and Defra's Chief Scientific Advisor. The scientific assessment flagged that there could be a risk to bees not from the crop itself but from neonicotinoid residues in the soil which could be taken up by plants in the field or field margin. The neonicotinoid breaks down over time and so the authorisation is subject to a condition that no flowering crop can be planted for 32 months following any planting of sugar beet treated with Cruiser SB. This substantially reduces the risks. Pollinators are a priority for this Government, and we are taking action alongside many partners to implement the National Pollinator Strategy's provisions. We are restoring and creating habitat for wild and managed pollinators to thrive; addressing pressures including by supporting Integrated Pest Management (IPM); raising awareness across society so that people can take action themselves; and supporting monitoring and research. The Environment Act also requires a new legally binding target to be set to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030, which will drive actions to deliver nature recovery and help to reverse declines in species, including pollinators.

Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations 2011

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 29 April 2021 to Question 185334 on Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations 2011, when he plans to commence that consultation.

Rebecca Pow: Defra has reviewed the case for implementing Section 42 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Officials will be taking forward the work to seek to implement Section 42 and to consider supplementary regulations to adopt existing sewerage assets, such as private wastewater pumping stations, constructed since July 2011. We will continue to engage with stakeholders and plan to develop a public consultation on our implementation approach to help build our evidence base on policy options and our assessment of costs and benefits.

Research: Expenditure

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 175 of the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, what proportion of the £140 million to spent over three years for the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment will be spent on R&D (a) outside the Greater South East and (b) in the Greater South East.

Rebecca Pow: The UK is well served with world leading environmental science research establishments, many of which are outside London and the SE. The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment aims to deliver high quality national and local evidence across all parts of England to assess the state and condition of biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural capital assets across our terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. It is not possible currently to state exactly how funding will be split between the Greater South-East and other parts of England while the programme is still in its pilot phase.

Environment Protection

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to (a) review the 25 year Environment Plan and (b) include public consultation in that review process.

Rebecca Pow: We have begun work on the first review of the 25 Year Environment Plan. We will complete the review by the end of January 2023 and any revised plan will be subject to the relevant parliamentary laying procedures as set out in the Environment Act 2021.The Government is issuing a series of public consultations relating to environment policy this year. These include consultations on new long-term, legally binding targets and on proposals to ban the supply of single-use plastic plates, cutlery and balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drink containers. We will also publish a public consultation on Nature Recovery in due course. We do not plan to overlay these with a further public consultation, adopting the same approach as we did for the original 25 Year Environment Plan. The development of the revised plan will be open and collaborative so we can draw on expertise available outside Government. It will also be subject to the relevant accountability and scrutiny procedures as set out in the Environment Act.

Water Charges

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with representatives of water companies following the publication of research by Water UK on 4 February which found that water bills in the UK will rise by 1.7 per cent from April 2022.

Rebecca Pow: Prior to the publication of estimated water bills for year 2022-23, Defra and Water UK discussed the potential increase and the support measures that are available to households who may struggle to pay their water bills. Water companies will continue to offer a wide range of support, including bill discounts, adjusting payment plans and helping customers to get advice on benefits and managing debts. Water companies have also increased their customer engagement to inform households of these measures.

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire dated 29 November 2021 regarding food poverty, reference ZA58355.

Victoria Prentis: I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member. A reply is being prepared and will be issued in due course.

Rivers: Pollution

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the closest polychlorinated biphenyls sediment level testing location is for the rivers (a) Ely, (b) Taff, (c) Usk, including beside old Newport Monsanto factory, (d) Severn Estuary, (e) Dee below old Cefn Mawr Monsanto Factory, (f) Cardiff Bay and (g) Newport Glebeland ditches.

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which environmental impact assessments detailing polychlorinated biphenyls leakage levels from historic landfill sites into South Wales watercourses have been made publicly available.

Rebecca Pow: This is a devolved matter, and so, it would not be appropriate to respond on this issue.

Habitats Regulations Assessment Advisory Working Group

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the findings of the Habitats Regulations Assessment Advisory Working Group.

Rebecca Pow: Recommendations from the Habitats Regulations Assessment review working group will be published alongside the upcoming Nature Recovery Green Paper, which my department intends to publish shortly.

Inland Waterways: Leisure

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase access to all inland waters for enjoyment by recreational users, such as swimmers and canoeists.

Rebecca Pow: The Government recognises that taking to our inland waters can have a positive effect on peoples’ physical and mental wellbeing. We are aware that there has been a considerable increase over the last two years or so in numbers of people taking up water-based activities such as canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and open water or wild swimming. Access to unregulated waterways can be arranged through voluntary access agreements, and access to regulated waterways can be granted through licenses from the appropriate navigation authority.

Inland Waterways: Canoeing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of inland waters to which canoeists have uncontested accesses; and what assessment he has made of trends in the level of that proportion over the last 10 years.

Rebecca Pow: There are around 43,910 miles of inland waterways in England and Wales. Over 3,400 miles of these are regulated by various navigation authorities, who grant access to them via licences. The proportion of unregulated waterways to which there is uncontested access was estimated in 2001 at around 2,820 miles. No assessment has been made of any changes to that.

Air Pollution: Pregnancy

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact of poor air quality on pregnant women.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact of air pollution on new-born children.

Jo Churchill: The Clean Air Strategy sets out the measures we are taking forward to reduce emissions of air pollutants from many sectors. In line with our duty in our landmark Environment Act, we will set a target to reduce concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) alongside a further long-term population exposure reduction target. This dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations and ensure continuous improvement across the country for all citizens, including pregnant women and new-born children.We continue to work with local authorities to deliver legal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), supported by £880 million of funding to develop and implement local air quality plans. This Government is also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.We are undertaking a comprehensive review of how we communicate air quality information to ensure that the public and vulnerable groups have what they need protect themselves and understand their impact on air quality.

Carbon Emissions: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 175 of the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, how much and what proportion of the £75 million for Net Zero-related R&D, which is to be spent over the next three years, will be spent outside the Greater South East.

Jo Churchill: The programme of research and development that aims to deliver evidence for our path to being a Net Zero country will be commissioned through open competition. The UK is well served with world leading environmental science research departments, many of which are outside London and the Greater South East. It is not currently possible to state exactly how Defra’s Spending Review commitment to funding £75 million worth of Net Zero work will be split between the Greater South East and other parts of England as the vast majority of these research programmes will be new.

Home Office

Electric Scooters: Fires

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department is providing to local authorities and housing associations on the safe storage of e-scooters, in response to recent fires.

Rachel Maclean: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electric Scooters: Fires

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what monitoring her Department has undertaken of fires caused by e-scooters in (a) single owned properties, (b) privately owned properties of multiple occupation and (c) multiple occupation social housing properties.

Rachel Maclean: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cybercrime and Fraud

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her policy that fraud and computer misuse should be reclassified from crimes to another category; and if she will make a statement.

Rachel Maclean: The Government is committed to tackling fraud and computer misuse alongside operational partners. Later this year we will publish a new approach to tackle fraud to remove the vulnerabilities that fraudsters exploit, improve the law enforcement response and ensure that the public have the advice and support they need.The Government also published the National Cyber Strategy in December 2021, which sets out how we will take a whole-of-society approach to increasing our cyber security and resilience over the next three years, reducing the risk and opportunity for cyber-crimes against individuals and businesses.The classification of crimes in official statistics is a matter for the ONS.

Immigration: Afghanistan

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people who are in Afghanistan who have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Rachel Maclean: The Home Office holds no data on the number of Afghan’s with indefinite leave to remain who remain in Afghanistan.Those who have indefinite leave to remain in the UK who currently in Afghanistan should make themselves known to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The UK is working with international partners to secure safe routes out of Afghanistan as soon as they become available.

Immigration: Afghanistan

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on the validity of indefinite leave to remain applications for individuals from Afghanistan who travelled to Afghanistan before August 2021; and if she will make a statement.

Rachel Maclean: There are no application routes to apply for indefinite leave to remain from overseas. For those who were not called forward as part of Op Pitting, or who are not offered resettlement under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, they will need to apply to come to the UK under the existing economic or family migration rules. They will be expected to meet the eligibility requirements of their chosen route, which includes paying relevant fees and charges, and providing biometrics. However, there is currently no option to give biometrics in Afghanistan.Individuals who are in third countries have the option of applying for a visa to the UK. Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigrationFor Afghan refugees in the UK, their close family members are free to apply for Family Reunion, but we recognise those in Afghanistan will face the same challenges in providing biometrics and so we do not recommend making applications at this time. Those in third countries are open to submit an application. Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website:https://www.gov.uk/settlement-refugee-or-humanitarian-protection/family-reunionThe UK is working with international partners to secure safe routes out of Afghanistan as soon as they become available, but while the security situation remains extremely volatile, we recommend people in Afghanistan do not make applications and pay application fees at this time as they will not be considered until biometrics are provided.The Home Office holds no data on the number of Afghan’s with indefinite leave to remain who remain in Afghanistan. Those who have indefinite leave to remain in the UK who are currently in Afghanistan should make themselves known to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason her Department has decided to stop the publication of daily figures of migrants crossing the English Channel.

Tom Pursglove: The Home Office are currently considering advice from the independent UK Statistics Authority to make sure statistics on small boats crossing are published in an orderly way, which provides a clear picture of the small boats issue to the public. The Home Office has recently announced its intention to publish a quarterly statistics release on irregular migration to the UK, including the number of people arriving across the Channel in small boats. The first release will be on 24 February 2022. This will ensure regular statistics are released in an orderly, transparent way that is accessible to everyone, meeting the principles set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking in preparation for a potential increase in channel crossings in the Spring.

Tom Pursglove: We expect to see increased attempts by criminal gangs to facilitate these dangerous and unnecessary Channel crossings as the weather and sea conditions improve. Our focus is on prevention, and our ongoing support to the French Government provides for additional police patrols, improved detection technology and strengthened border security infrastructure on the French side. And at home, we are overhauling our broken asylum system to ensure people smugglers cannot profit from this vile trade.We are exploring with Ministry of Defence partners how best we can use the full range of HMG’s capabilities to intercept and manage those that cross the Channel more effectively, safely and securely.We have already improved the facilities at the Port of Dover. We have also set up a new, secure site at Manston to hold small boat arrivals for up to five days as security and identity checks are completed.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Regional Planning and Development

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to measure his levelling up agenda and how often that data will be published, to support parliamentary scrutiny of that agenda.

Neil O'Brien: The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 ambitious new missions that are targeted, measurable and time-bound declarations of the progress needed to achieve levelling up.Robust monitoring and accountability is a key part of the Levelling Up agenda set out in the White Paper. In addition to welcoming ongoing scrutiny through established Parliamentary mechanisms, the Government will introduce a statutory obligation to report annually on progress towards meeting the Levelling Up missions. The report will draw on the metrics set out in the White Paper and provide rigorous analysis and monitoring of progress in reducing regional disparities. It will also provide progress updates on policy related to addressing spatial differences in living standards and social outcomes across the UK. This annual report will be published and be subject to external and Parliamentary scrutiny.

Regional Planning and Development

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who will be (a) responsible for the delivery of the levelling up agenda and (b) accountable to Parliament for areas of that agenda which intersect with (i) health, (ii) education and (iii) other departmental areas not within his Department.

Neil O'Brien: Achieving the bold national missions we have set out in the Levelling Up White Paper will rely on a ‘system change’ of how government works. These missions will be cross-government, cross-society efforts, and are intended to precipitate systems change through cooperation across the public, private and voluntary sectors, rather than acting as a mechanism for holding the government to account.  To ensure transparency and accountability, the missions are specific and measurable, and are supported by a set of metrics. We are also committing to report on progress towards the missions through an annual report submitted to parliament, with each Whitehall department accountable for its contributions towards the collective effort.  We have also set up a ‘Levelling Up Advisory Council’ that will provide independent expert advice on matters relating to the design and delivery of Levelling Up, and a new Cabinet Sub-Committee with a specific focus on Levelling Up, chaired by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This will bring together cabinet colleagues to collaborate, share information and resources, and take collective decisions on policies which will drive real change in towns and cities across the UK.Secretaries of State are accountable to parliament for the actions of their department. Further information on departmental responsibilities can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-ministers-and-responsibilities.

Regional Planning and Development: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate he has made of the economic benefit to York that will result from his proposals for levelling up.

Neil O'Brien: Alongside places up and down the country, York is already benefiting from considerable support to help level up, and further support was announced in the recently published Levelling Up White Paper.The Government will be taking forward negotiations to agree a Mayoral Combined Authority deal with York and North Yorkshire, as well as inviting Hull and East Yorkshire to begin formal negotiations to agree a new County Deal. The Department for Transport’s new executive agency, Active Travel England, will be headquartered in York, alongside a number of Defra roles relocated in the city. The wider Yorkshire and the Humber region has already been awarded £187 million from Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund for infrastructure projects to improve everyday life, and we expect to announce details of the second round in Spring.York also benefits from a number of UK-wide initiatives. For example, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will empower local leaders to invest in local priorities to improve pride in place and life chances. Further details will be published in the Spring. Additionally, digital connectivity is being improved, with 80-90% of premises in Yorkshire and the Humber forecast to have gigabit-capable broadband by 2025, and 90% of the region anticipated to be covered by 4G mobile coverage by 2026.

Shipping: Skilled Workers

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department made an assessment of the contribution of highly skilled maritime jobs to coastal communities as part of developing the Levelling Up White Paper.

Neil O'Brien: The recently published Levelling Up the United Kingdom  White Paper considers the importance of different sectors for different communities, including coastal communities, for example, port and maritime specialisms in the Solent. Additionally, the transition to a Net Zero economy will support highly-skilled employment opportunities in coastal areas, for example, through the transition to a Net Zero North Sea, as highlighted by the Green Jobs Taskforce Report.

Crime: Yorkshire and the Humber

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the crime mission in the Levelling Up White Paper, what the projected fall in homicide, serious violence and neighbourhood crime is in each year to 2030 for (a) Hemsworth constituency, (b) Wakefield local authority and (c) Yorkshire and Humber region.

Neil O'Brien: The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 ambitious new missions that are targeted, measurable and time-bound declarations of the progress needed to achieve levelling up.The metrics through which progress on the crime mission will be measured, including the geographical coverage, are set out in Figures 15 and 16 in the Technical Annex to the White Paper. Metrics relating to the homicide and serious violence are available at the Police Force Area level. An expansion of the Crime Survey is being explored that would support more accurate estimates of neighbourhood crime levels in these areas and will provide a richer picture of what is happening to neighbourhood crime levels at police force area level.

Housing: Yorkshire and the Humber

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the missions announced in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, published on 2 February 2022, if he will publish the projected (a) increase in the number of first-time buyers and (b) decrease in non-decent rented homes for (a) Hemsworth constituency, (b) Wakefield local authority and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber region in each year to 2030.

Neil O'Brien: The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 ambitious new missions that are targeted, measurable and time-bound declarations of the progress needed to achieve levelling up.The housing mission aims to provide a path to home ownership for first-time buyers as well as reducing the number of non-decent rented homes by 50%. The UK Government is committed to developing a metric for first-time buyer numbers per year that can be published at the sub-national level within the next year, to track progress against this mission. Ahead of these data being made public, supporting metrics drawn from the English Housing Survey will be used to track home ownership trends. The headline metric for housing quality is the proportion of renters living in housing that does not meet the Decent Homes Standard (DHS). Currently, housing quality can only be measured at the regional level in England. The metric will look at outcomes in all regions in England, as all areas have pockets of poor outcomes.

First Time Buyers: Yorkshire and the Humber

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Housing Mission announced in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, published on 2 February 2022, if he will publish the projected increase in first-time house buyers for (a) Hemsworth constituency, (b) Wakefield local authority and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber region in each year to 2030.

Neil O'Brien: The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 ambitious new missions that are targeted, measurable and time-bound declarations of the progress needed to achieve levelling up.The housing mission aims to provide a path to home ownership for first-time buyers. The UK Government is committed to developing a metric for first-time buyer numbers per year that can be published at the sub-national level within the next year, to track progress against this mission. Ahead of these data being made public, supporting metrics drawn from the English Housing Survey will be used to track home ownership trends.

Regional Planning and Development

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Pride in Place Mission announced in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, published on 2 February 2022, whether his Department plans to routinely collect data for metrics measuring pride in place, including on (a) regeneration, (b) communities and (c) culture, heritage and sport.

Neil O'Brien: Pride in place is connected to a number of variables including community engagement, local heritage, engagement in cultural life, access and quality of local amenities, and quality of town centres. Survey-based measures of pride in place are still in their infancy. These measures are subjective and, in some cases, not yet developed or designed to enable analysis at a spatial level. The Community Life Survey already measures aspects such as ‘sense of belonging’ and think tanks such as Local Trust have made progress in researching what matters for pride in place and local area satisfaction.Engagement with experts will continue after publication to develop metrics and information that can support the implementation of the pride in place mission.

Life Expectancy: Yorkshire and the Humber

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the healthy life expectancy mission in the Levelling Up White Paper, what the projected improvement in health outcomes in each year to 2030 are for (a) Hemsworth constituency, (b) Wakefield local authority and (c) Yorkshire and Humber region.

Neil O'Brien: The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 ambitious new missions that are targeted, measurable and time-bound declarations of the progress needed to achieve levelling up.The metrics through which progress on the health mission will be measured, including the geographical coverage, are set out in Figures 15 and 16 in the Technical Annex to the White Paper. The Office for National Statistics publishes data on Healthy Life Expectancy by upper tier local authority in England, local authority in Wales, council areas in Scotland, and local government districts in Northern Ireland. The supporting metrics for the mission include smoking prevalence of adults, ​​obesity prevalence of children and adults, cancer diagnosis at stage 1 and 2, and the under 75 mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases considered preventable. These are available at various geographical levels.

Life Expectancy: Yorkshire and the Humber

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Health Mission announced in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, if he will publish the projected change in Healthy Life Expectancy for (a) Hemsworth constituency, (b) Wakefield local authority and (c) Yorkshire and Humber region in each year to 2035.

Neil O'Brien: The metrics through which progress on increasing Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) will be measured, including the geographical coverage, are set out in Figures 15 and 16 in the Technical Annex to the White Paper. The Office for National Statistics publishes data on HLE by upper tier local authority in England, local authority in Wales, council areas in Scotland, and local government districts in Northern Ireland.The Health Disparities White Paper, expected to be published in Spring 2022, will set out the strategy to tackle the core drivers of disparities in health.

Training: Yorkshire and the Humber

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Skills Mission announced in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, if he will publish how many of the 200,000 more people successfully completing high-quality skills training will be in (a) Hemsworth constituency, (b) Wakefield local authority and (c) Yorkshire and Humber region.

Neil O'Brien: In addition to 200,000 more people successfully completing high-quality skills training annually by 2030, the skills mission commits to this increase being driven by 80,000 more people completing courses in the ‘lowest skilled areas’.The metrics through which progress will be measured, including the geographical coverage, are set out in Figures 15 and 16 in the Technical Annex to the White Paper. All the metrics relating to the skills mission will be available at the local authority level. Further, a combined measure of achievements in Level 4 and 5 skills training across the Further Education and Higher Education sectors is under development, and the Department for Education will also monitor broader measures of private employers’ investment in training.

Regional Planning and Development: 5G

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Digital Connectivity Mission announced in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, if he will publish (a) what percentage of the population will have 5G coverage by 2030, and (b) which sections or locations of the UK population will not have 5G coverage by 2030, for (i) the Hemsworth constituency, (ii) the Wakefield local authority, (iii) Yorkshire and Humberside, and (iv) the UK.

Neil O'Brien: The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 ambitious new missions that are targeted, measurable and time-bound declarations of the progress needed to achieve levelling up.The digital connectivity mission sets out the government's ambitions for 5G coverage in 2030, with the aim of ‘5G coverage for the majority of the population’. We are developing a Wireless Infrastructure Strategy which will set out how we will drive the development, deployment and adoption of future wireless networks in the UK. Through this we are developing a comprehensive picture of how demand for 5G may evolve over the next decade, working with industry to identify where they are planning to invest, and any interventions government should take to ensure we have the infrastructure in place to deliver on broader government agendas including Levelling Up and Net Zero.

Regional Planning and Development: Transport

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the transport connectivity mission in the Levelling Up White Paper, what the (a) metrics and (b) minimum thresholds are by which he will determine (i) improved services, (ii) simpler fares and (iii) integrated ticketing.

Neil O'Brien: The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 ambitious new missions that are targeted, measurable and time-bound declarations of the progress needed to achieve levelling up.The headline metrics for the transport mission are ‘Usual method of travel to work by region of workplace’ and ‘Average travel time in minutes to reach the nearest large employment centre (500+ employees)’. In measuring the success and ambition of this mission, it will be important to look at a variety of counterparts that have a similar population and economic size, and transport needs, as towns and cities across the UK.Informal consultation and engagement will continue after publication to check the current suite of metrics is correct, as well as to identify additional metrics and information that can support implementation of the missions.

Research: Finance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Research and Development Mission in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, if will publish estimates for increases in domestic and public investment in R&D outside the greater South East, by English region.

Neil O'Brien: The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 ambitious new missions that are targeted, measurable and time-bound declarations of the progress needed to achieve levelling up.The Research & Development (R&D) mission is focused on domestic R&D spending - excluding funding for Horizon Europe and other EU programmes. Progress will be measured combining Government funding for R&D and Business Expenditure on R&D outside the Greater South East. Both metrics are available for UK countries and regions.While some information on public R&D funding is already collected and published - such as UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) spending - there are currently significant evidence gaps that prevent policy makers from tracking and measuring where public funding is spent. The UK Government will ask the Office for National Statistics and the UK Government Office for Science to work with all Whitehall departments to collect and publish sub-national data on their R&D spending. This will allow us to track progress on the mission to 2030.

Regional Planning and Development: Urban Areas

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Living Standards Mission announced in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, published on 2 February 2022, if he will publish the (a) metrics and (b) minimum thresholds by which he plans to determine what is a globally competitive city, broken down by (i) small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) finance, (ii) institutional investment, (iii) mobile investment and trade policy, (iv) adoption and diffusion and (v) manufacturing.

Neil O'Brien: The preliminary list of metrics is published in the Technical Annex alongside the White Paper. Informal consultation and engagement will continue after publication to check the current suite of metrics is correct and identify additional metrics that can support implementation of the missions.A globally competitive city is one that can compete with other major cities in attracting investment and talent from around the world. These cities typically excel across multiple measures of economic, social, and cultural performance - such as strong institutions, high productivity, good quality education, competitive tax regimes, and effective infrastructure - making them highly attractive to firms and individuals. To measure this, we will use a basket of metrics including, but not limited to, GVA per filled job, services trade balance, share of Knowledge Intensive Service sectors, percentage of 16-64 year olds with an NVQ4+ qualification and city density, all across City Regions.

Regional Planning and Development: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will publish the details of awards made under the (a) Levelling Up Fund, (b) Towns Fund, (c) Future High Streets Fund and (d) Community Ownership Fund in Hemsworth constituency.

Neil O'Brien: We have published details of awards made under round one of the Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals, the Future High Street Fund, the Community Renewal Fund and round one of the Community Ownership Fund.Applications submitted to government under round one of the Levelling Up Fund were prioritised locally including MP consultation and endorsement. Projects proposed under the Community Renewal Fund and Community Ownership Fund were also prioritised by local leaders including the West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and West Yorkshire Local Authorities. We are investing £49m across two Town Deals in Wakefield alongside a further £20 million through round one of the Levelling Up Fund. This will lead to a stronger and more resilient local economy, the benefits of which will be felt by the wider area.We will be providing more details and launching round two of the Levelling Up Fund and Community Ownership Fund in the Spring which will provide further opportunities for places like Hemsworth to submit proposals. There will also be opportunities for investment through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the pre-publication guidance of which was announced on 2 February 2022, with the expectation that prioritisation of projects to be supported in West Yorkshire will be determined at a local level.Beyond these programmes we are providing a total package of investment and transfer of powers worth £1.8 billion through the West Yorkshire Devolution Deal, which includes long term funding of £38 million per annum for 30 years providing the freedom for local leaders to decide how best to meet local needs.

Life Expectancy: Regional Planning and Development

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the evidential basis is that the policy proposals set out in the Levelling Up White Paper on reducing the regional inequality in healthy life expectancy will be sufficient to achieve the target.

Neil O'Brien: The missions set out in the Levelling Up White Paper are medium term and will be used to galvanise action across government, business and civil society. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities will work with the Department of Health & Social Care and other government departments to ensure that the right policies are in place to contribute to achieving the missions.The Levelling Up mission for health is underpinned by the government’s manifesto commitment to increase the number of years spent in good health by at least five years nationally. To achieve our mission, we need to increase healthy life expectancy at a faster rate than the current UK average. Based on past learnings, we will need to increase collaboration and innovation, target investment, and ensure interventions are wide-reaching to tackle the biggest disparities in health.This is why we will set out our strategy to tackle the core drivers of disparities in health in the new Health Disparities White Paper, which we expect to publish later this year. This will set out a series of impactful measures, including legislation, to address health disparities at each stage at which they arise.The Levelling Up White Paper also sets out a broad range of policies, which will improve the nation’s health and tackle disparities through action on prevention as well as health service provision. This includes commitments on smoking, obesity, substance misuse, early years and Community Diagnostic Centres.

Shipping

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions officials in his Department have had with officials in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on maritime decarbonisation and job creation.

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans his Department has to support industrial maritime projects in coastal communities.

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans his Department has to support industrial maritime projects in coastal communities as part of levelling up the UK.

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans his Department has to support (a) Maritime UK Solent and (b) other regional maritime clusters in the UK as part of the levelling up agenda.

Neil O'Brien: The recently published Levelling Up White Paper outlines the roles of the public and private sector in supporting coastal communities; for example, port and maritime specialisms in the Solent. The transition to net zero presents a real opportunity to support communities impacted by climate change and drive levelling up across the country.Given the joint Cities and Local Growth Unit between the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, there are regular discussions between the two departments on how government as a whole can best to support our maritime clusters and coastal communities.One example of our commitment to unlocking the growth of our coastal economies and communities is with the announcement of eight Freeports from eight regions of England and a commitment to establishing one in each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as soon as possible. These will be national hubs for international trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK, including coastal areas.And we are already taking steps to support industrial maritime projects in coastal communities, for example with the £33m worth of funding for the Humber’s Zero Carbon Initiative. Alongside support for the East Coast Cluster, this is a collaboration between the Humber and Teesside to capture emissions and store them safely, which has the potential to remove around 50% of total UK industrial emissions.In particular, Maritime UK Solent will bring together the Solent’s maritime strengths and champion the region as a globally significant maritime cluster, built upon the region’s natural assets. The Solent Freeport in Hampshire will capitalise on the area’s existing maritime strengths to unlock investment, create thousands of new jobs, and help attract new businesses in high growth sectors.Support for offshore wind is also creating major opportunities in coastal communities around the UK. In the last year, we have been able to announce circa £1.6 billion of investment to develop major port infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities for our offshore wind sector, which could create and safeguard up to 4,100 jobs. We estimate that up to 60,000 direct and indirect jobs could be supported by the offshore wind sector by 2030.

Fuel Poverty

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's oral contribution of 3 February 2022, Official Report, column 472, what guidance his Department is providing to local authorities on distributing the discretionary fund to support people in fuel poverty.

Kemi Badenoch: My Department will provide guidance shortly to billing authorities on administering the council tax rebate scheme and the associated discretionary fund. Allocations from the discretionary fund will allow councils to support people that may need help with their energy bills but who are not eligible for the main scheme.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Equality

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how often managers within his Department and its arms-length bodies are expected to undertake equalities training.

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of managers within his Department and its arms-length bodies have completed equalities training within the last (a) 12 months, (b) 24 months and (c) 36 months.

Michael Ellis: As with other Government departments, Cabinet Office (CO) utilises the Civil Service Learning (CSL) offer for all of its mandatory learning. This includes the training package, ‘Inclusion in the Civil Service’, which all Cabinet Office staff are expected to complete on an annual basis. In early 2021, ‘Inclusion in the Civil Service’ replaced the CSL’s previous package, ‘Diversity and Inclusion 2019’, following the Chief People Officer Rupert McNeil’s instructions in late 2020 for all Civil Service departments to withdraw any learning that included reference to unconscious bias training. As such, we can advise that around 25% of CO colleagues completed ‘Inclusion in the Civil Service’ in the year 2021. It is worth noting that as part of the CO’s move to continue to improve and enhance the department’s L&D offer across 2022/2023, we will be working closely with colleagues in Government Skills and Curriculum Unit (GSCU) to review all CO mandatory learning, as well as introducing a new process to help capture completion rates of mandatory learning, as the current CSL system does not allow for this.

Treasury

Disguised Remuneration Loan Charge Review

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the Morse Review into the Loan Charge; and what work remains outstanding.

Lucy Frazer: The Government announced the Loan Charge at Budget 2016, deciding that the Loan Charge is the right way to tackle and draw a line under the use of Disguised Remuneration (DR) schemes. The Independent Loan Charge Review was led by Lord Morse in 2019. The Review drew upon all the available evidence and expert advice to consider the appropriateness of the Loan Charge as a policy response and its impact on individuals, reflecting the main concerns that had been raised by MPs and campaigners. The Government recognised the concerns raised by the Review and accepted 19 of the Review’s 20 recommendations. The Government implemented a number of changes to the Loan Charge, which were enacted in Finance Act 2020. On 3 December 2020, HMRC published a full report to Parliament on the implementation of the review recommendations. This report set out how HMRC had delivered the 19 recommendations which were accepted by the Government.

Tax Avoidance

John McNally: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will announce a further review of the Loan Charge policy.

Lucy Frazer: An independent review of the Loan Charge has already taken place. The 2019 Review, conducted by Lord Morse, concluded that it was right for the Loan Charge to remain in force and for the Government to collect the tax due. The Government accepted all but one of the 20 recommendations in the Review. The charge on Disguised Remuneration loans is targeted at contrived tax avoidance schemes which seek to avoid Income Tax and National Insurance contributions by paying users their income in the form of loans, usually via an offshore trust. This kind of tax avoidance deprives the Exchequer of funds to deliver vital public services.

Off-payroll Working

John McNally: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the obligations on employment agencies and umbrella companies set out under Chapter 10 Part 2 of The Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

Lucy Frazer: The Tax Information and Impact Note published in March 2021 set out the expected impacts of the April 2021 reform of the off-payroll working rules, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/off-payroll-working-rules-from-april-2021/off-payroll-working-rules-from-april-2021 Research into the effects of the off-payroll working rules reforms on employment agencies was published in March 2021, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/effects-of-the-off-payroll-working-reforms-on-employment-agencies During the debate on the Finance Bill 2020, the Government committed to commission independent research into the short-term impacts of the reform by October 2021. That research has been commissioned. The Government will publish its findings once complete.

Venture Capital Trusts: Tax Allowances

Anthony Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the sunset clause stipulated in s. 261(3) (za) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (as amended by the Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 (c. 33), Sch. 6 para. 2(2)), whether his Department plans to extend income tax relief through venture capital trusts to subscriptions made on or after 6 April 2025.

Lucy Frazer: Venture Capital Trusts, which were introduced in 1995, are designed to encourage individuals to invest indirectly in a range of unquoted smaller, higher-risk, trading companies. The Government keeps this scheme under review to ensure that it continues to meet its policy objectives in a way that is fair and effective.

Cancer: Nurses

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce ringfenced funding for training cancer specialist nurses.

Mr Simon Clarke: I refer the hon Member to the answer that I gave on 31 January 2022 to PQ reference UIN 112677.

Private Rented Housing: Council Tax

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the council tax rebate, announced on 3 February, will be received by tenants whose council tax is paid in the name of their landlord; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Council Tax Energy Rebate will be paid to whoever is responsible for paying the Council Tax bill. It is for tenants and landlords to agree how the rebate is apportioned between them, reflecting their arrangements for both energy bills and council tax. In cases where landlords include just council tax within the rents they charge, and energy bills are paid separately by tenants, the savings from the Council Tax rebate should be passed on to tenants.

Energy: Rebates

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an estimate of the potential amount of the Energy Bills Rebate announced on 3 February 2022 that will be written off within a five-year period.

Helen Whately: The aim of the policy is to reduce energy bills for households in Great Britain in 22/23. The Government intends to recoup the costs of the discount in full, from domestic energy customers automatically (interest-free) over the next five years. This approach is fiscally responsible while also helping customers manage the unprecedented increase in energy bills by spreading the increased costs of global prices over time. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will work closely with industry and consumer groups on how best to deliver this policy, including through a public consultation in the Spring.

Energy: Prices

Catherine West: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the repayable loan of £200 to assist households with increased energy prices into a non-repayable grant in the event that energy and gas prices continue to rise in 2023-24.

Helen Whately: The Government recognises that many households will need support to help deal with the rising cost of energy. Therefore, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of support worth £9.1bn in 2022-23 on 3 February. This is composed of:A £200 reduction in households' energy bills this autumn, paid back automatically over the next 5 years, spreading the cost of high global gas prices in a way that is more manageable for households.A £150 non-repayable cash rebate for 80% of households to help with rising costs now, delivered as a payment to all households in Council Tax Bands A-D from April this year.£144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction. This is in addition to the existing support measures that are helping those most vulnerable to heat their homes over this winter. These include the Warm Home Discount, which is being expanded to 3m people and increased to £150, up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment for all households with at least one member above State Pension age and a £25 per week Cold Weather Payment – plus our £500 million Household Support Fund. We’re also providing £3bn over this Parliament to help more than half a million lower income homes become more energy efficient, saving them £290 per year on average. The £200 reduction will be paid to all households and recouped over the next 5 years. This approach is fiscally responsible while also helping customers manage the unprecedented increase in energy bills by spreading the increased costs of global prices over time. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will work closely with industry and consumer groups on how best to deliver this policy, including through a public consultation in the Spring.

Energy: Prices

Beth Winter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Resolution Foundation of 3 February 2022 that lowest-income decile households will see the energy bills as a share of their total spending rise to 10 per cent.

Beth Winter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation findings of 3 February 2022, that single adult households on low incomes will spend 43 per cent on average of their income after housing costs on energy bills.

Beth Winter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation of 3 February 2022, that lone parent families on low incomes will spend 22 per cent on average of their income after housing costs on energy bills.

Helen Whately: The Government understands that people are concerned about pressure on household budgets, particularly due to rising energy bills, and is taking action to help. That is why we have announced a package of support to help households with rising energy bills, worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23. Alongside this package, we are already taking steps to ease cost of living pressures. This includes a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55%, and an increase in Universal Credit work allowances by £500 p.a. to make work pay, freezing alcohol and fuel duties to keep costs down, and increasing the National Living Wage by 6.6% to £9.50 an hour for workers aged 23 and over in April 2022, which will benefit more than 2 million workers. Lastly, the government’s Plan for Jobs is helping people into work and giving them the skills they need to progress – the best approach to managing the cost of living in the long term. At Spending Review 2021, to continue to boost employment, wages and living standards, we invested in our most successful Plan for Jobs schemes and introduced a new package of measures – taking the total DWP spend on labour market support to more than £6 billion over the next three years. The Government also recently announced the ‘Way to Work’ campaign to get 500,000 jobseekers into jobs by the end of June. We know work is the best way for people to get on, to improve their lives and support their families because people on benefits are at least £6,000 better off in full time work.

Water Charges: Low Incomes

Catherine West: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional financial support to low income households to help with the rise of water bills from April 2022.

Helen Whately: The government is providing support worth around £12 billion this financial year and next to help families with the cost of living. This support includes the £500 million Household Support Fund to help vulnerable households with costs for essentials such as energy bills, food, clothing, and utilities over the winter. Water companies will also continue to offer a wide range of support, including bill discounts such as Watersure and social tariffs, adjusting payment plans and helping customers to get advice on benefits and managing debts. Water companies have also increased their customer engagement to inform households of these measures.

Health Services: Brexit

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has received an extra £350 million per week as a result of savings made from the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Simon Clarke: In October, the government published the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 (SR21). SR21 sets departmental budgets and devolved administrations block grants from 2022-23 until 2024-25. As a result of SR21, the NHS England day-to-day budget will grow to £162.6 billion in 2024-25, ensuring it can tackle the elective backlog, deliver the Long Term Plan and has the resources to fight COVID-19. SR21 also goes further to transform and improve healthcare outcomes for people, providing £11.2 billion for health capital in 2024-25. This will drive a step-change in quality and efficiency of care through increased diagnostic capacity and support for the innovative use of digital technology.

Energy: Rhondda Cynon Taf

Beth Winter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of families who are (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for the Energy Bills Rebate; in (i) Cynon Valley constituency and (ii) Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government is providing a £200 reduction in households’ energy bills this October which will benefit all domestic electricity customers in Great Britain to reduce pressure on energy bills this year when global gas prices are high. This will be paid back automatically over the next 5 years. The £150 Council Tax Energy Rebate applies in England only, as Council Tax policy is devolved in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. As a result, the devolved administrations will receive around £565 million extra funding through the Barnett formula, which will enable them to provide similar support.

Disguised Remuneration Loan Charge Review

John McNally: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people seeking refunds as a result of the changes to the Loan Change made in response to the Morse Review have been refunded by HMRC.

Lucy Frazer: This question is answered on the basis that your question is about HMRC’s Disguised Remuneration (DR) Repayment Scheme 2020. Following Lord Morse’s Independent Loan Charge Review in 2019, the Government introduced legislation requiring HMRC to establish a scheme to repay relevant Voluntary Restitution elements of DR settlements. These amounts were voluntary payments that taxpayers had agreed to make as part of settlements concluded before changes were made to the scope of the Loan Charge. Individuals and employers had until 30 September 2021 to apply to HMRC for a refund or waiver. HMRC repays amounts that were paid in DR scheme settlements, and/or waives amounts of instalments due that have not yet been paid if certain conditions are met. As of 28 January 2022, HMRC had processed approximately 1500 applications, of which approximately 1000 had received either a repayment, a waiver, or both. Approximately 500 of the applications processed at that date were either invalid or ineligible.

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire, dated 27 October 2021, on Lord Morse's review of the Loan Charge, reference ZA58107.

Lucy Frazer: The Honourable Member’s correspondence was responded to on 9 February 2022.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Fan-led Review of Football Governance

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to implement the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the sustainability of professional football clubs.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government recognises the importance of the long-term sustainability of professional football clubs, particularly those in the lower leagues. That is why we have welcomed the Independent Fan Led Review of Football Governance and have endorsed in principle the headline recommendation of the review to set up an independent regulator for English football.The Government is working at pace to consider the report’s full suite of recommendations in detail, including on improving financial stability and the governance of football clubs.The Government will continue to engage with stakeholders as we work towards issuing a full response to the report and its recommendations in the Spring.